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Our learning center is a non-profitable organization that empowers children
living with severe disabilities, to reach their utmost capabilities and
be accepted into society in whatever way possible so that they too can
live a meaningful life. We started the center 2 years ago with the help
of the community on a piece of land that was given to us on a permanent
basis (by the Meerhof School, a government based school for physically
disabled children.)
We started with 3 children and grew to 6 within six months. We currently
have seven children attending our school. We are open to children of all
cultures and we know the need is great out there. We also have to educate
parents in our area in order for them to bring their kids to the center,
because people of some cultures do not believe in sending these children
to school. They would rather leave them at home; unattended or in the
care of an elderly relative who cannot tend to their social, educational
or personal needs. Children attending our center have a variety of brain
disabilities. There are those with different syndromes and others who
sustained brain injuries because of an accident, birth defects or due
to illness.
South Africa, being a developing country, is far behind in this process
of incorporating these individuals into schools and society, due to social,
monetary and educational constraints. We are faced with unique challenges
in the South African context; we need to work harder to create equal opportunities
for individuals with developmental, physical and learning disabilities.
In more developed countries, the government has enough funding to look
after their vulnerable citizens.
Because of the lack of schools for the severely disabled, we as parents
started the Kuierkidz learning center in Hartbeespoort. We do not receive
any government funding and have to carry all costs of teachers, equipment,
therapy and excursions by ourselves.
The Meerhof School only caters for physically disabled kids. Children
who are not fit to attend there need to come to us for schooling but because
we are a private school these kids might not financially be able to attend
our center. Our monthly school fee is between R950 and R1950 per child
depending on the degree of personal attention necessary. But our actual
cost per child to keep the school going is R3000 per child. We, as parents,
have to raise these funds ourselves. Some of these children need an additional
assistant/facilitator to help them to cope with all the school tasks,
they are severely handicapped and can't cope on their own. We need to
raise those funds along with the running costs each month (electricity,
telephone, garden services, etc.)
We need an extra classroom desperately because we expect to enroll 3
Down syndrome children within the next month. I attach the quotation we
received from a supplier but any size room will do. We are using mobile
homes for classrooms. (On one of the photos attached you can see the classroom
in the background).
We drew up a wish list of all the school's basic needs and you are welcome
to look at it and see where you might be able to assist.
Thank you very much for taking time to learn about our center. Any help
whatsoever will be much appreciated.
Anelia Vorster (Principal)
KUIERKIDZ LEARNING CENTER
HARTBEESPOORT
STIMULATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE BRAIN DISABILITIES.
Dr. Kolbe lane 50, Meerhof, Hartbeespoort
Po Box 834, Hartbeespoort 0260.
Tel: 012-2591683. Cell number 072 818 2002
Email: kuierkidz@webmail.co.za
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