At Jorishaus, the focus is on supporting children with disabilities. In rural African areas, disabled children are seen as a curse and a punishment. They are hidden away in their families and isolated from the community. Their individual abilities are often not encouraged within the family – partly out of shame, partly out of inability. The lives of these children are often a misery, although it would sometimes be easy to make much more of their lives. This is where the Ndlovu Care Group steps in. It has set out to tackle the problems of the disabled population and opened the Jorishaus at the beginning of May. A rehabilitation center for handicapped children. Ndlovu hopes to give as many children as possible the chance to develop and train their skills here. In the first few days, the attendance was enormous. The young patients’ impairments range from mild intellectual disabilities to cerebral spasms. The instruction sessions at Jorishaus are individually tailored to the needs of each child in order to guarantee the best opportunities for development.
Latoya and Simphiwe, for example – both 17 years old – suffer from attention deficit disorder (ADHD), which makes it impossible for them to follow normal school lessons. The lessons at Jorishaus are aimed at building up the self-confidence of these children and strengthening their morale. In the long term, these children should become recognized members of the community.
Latoya and Simphiwe have now received training from Ndlovu at HRST to improve their communication skills. The two-day course is specifically designed for receptionists and first contact at reception. The course concludes with an oral presentation. This is the first time that the two have faced such an examination situation. They are accompanied by Ndlovu’s Child Care Manager and the occupational therapist from Jorishaus. They are there to support them in this unfamiliar and nerve-wracking situation.
Grinning all over his face, Simphiwe said at the start of the trip: “If I could work somewhere where I could speak English all day, I would be over the moon.” His mother confirmed with tears in her eyes that she was so sure that so many opportunities would be open to her son once he was accepted into one of Doctor Tempelman’s programs.
Both passed the course with flying colors. The oral presentation at the end in particular gave both of them the confirmation they had hoped for. They were not only able to prove to others, but above all to themselves, that they can achieve something. This self-confidence will strengthen them and enable them to start their professional lives. Both are now included in a database for job seekers.
We are keeping our fingers crossed and wish them all the best for the future.
Read more about the disability program in Elandsdoorn:
Disabled children in South Africa?
News from Jorishaus – the care center for disabled children of the Ndlovu Care Group
