A birthday visit from APD

Agata Runowicz from the Association for People with Disabilities (APD) in Grahamstown paid Sinakho a birthday visit and spent time with our children on 10 April. She made some beautiful posters for Sinakho's stimulation room alongside Sinakho's psychologist Marie (far left). Between them is Centre manager Millicent.

Happy birthday Sinakho!

Yesterday Sinakho celebrated it's first anniversary! We were privileged enough to have our benefactor Rob Beer and his son Andrew in attendance for our birthday ceremony and report back. Sinakho has gone from strength to strength this year and we had some parents give testimony to the work we have done with their children - they all noted a marked change in their child's behaviour and improved motor and verbal skills. Congratulations to the Sinakho staff who have put in such an amazing effort.

From left: Centre manager Millicent stands alongside benefactor Rob Beer, his son Andrew and one of Sinakho's parents Reverend Bebe who gave a moving sermon at our birthday ceremony. In front of them are Lilomtha (left) and Thulani (right) who both have cerebral palsy.

An exciting 2013

It's a brand new year and Sinakho has had some exciting developments in 2013. It's been too long since we last posted anything and there's lots of news to share. We've taken on three new employees at the Centre - a new cleaning attendant, a social worker and a psychologist all the way from Spain. We were also lucky enough to get a number of new children who enrolled in the Day Care as well. In January local nurses came to the Centre to immunise our children and we've recently developed a psychologist/mothers support group which is proving very beneficial. This year looks set to be a successful one and we're excited to celebrate our birthday on 10 April - we will be turning one!

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On the 3rd of December Sinakho will be celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Be sure to visit our blog to find out what we've got in store, but in the mean time you can find out more about this special day here.

Another donation!

Our caregivers and children with Michelle (far right)

Sinakho seems to be lucky in the month of November. After receiving R2000 from Chantelle Reynolds, we received a further donation from Michelle Perrow, founder of the advertising agency Lesoba Difference. Michelle was kind enough to buy the children a few toys, some greatly needed towels and an inflatable pool! Now the children can really start to get into the summer spirit. Thank you Michelle!

A generous helping hand

Sinakho was lucky enough to receive a donation of R2000 from Chantelle Reynolds, who raised this money through a Tots play group her daughter attends overseas. She is the daughter of DA member Les Reynolds, who recently donated a tree to our Centre on Arbor Day. Thank you Chantelle and the Reynolds family!

Toronto Star comes to Sinakho

Sinakho was lucky enough to have foreign affairs writer Bill Schiller from the Toronto Star come pay us a visit. Here he stands alongside Sinakho coordinator Millicent and her daughter Hlanganani, as well as Save Our Schools representatives Xolile Madinda (far left) and Lomalanga Mkhize. Photo by Richard Lautens from the Toronto Star.

Our biggest contributor

Sinakho would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Rob Beer of Beer Properties who has been our main financier and has contributed to the building and maintenance of the Day Care since it's opening this year. We would not be where we are without his support or the support of his family. Thank you again!

Rob Beer and his family at the Day Care

Sinakho attends a low vision workshop in Port Elizabeth

On 27 September Sinakho coordinator Millicent and one of our caregivers Mama Papu attended a low vision workshop hosted by Ann Heard and held at St Georges Hospital in Port Elizabeth. Heard "is the founder of the Unica School in Pretoria, founder of Autism Northern Gauteng and Autism South Africa.  She also has 25 years teaching children with special needs both in the UK and in South Africa" (Autism Eastern Cape). Find out more about the workshop here.

Below are Millicent (left), Assocaition for People with Disabilities's (APD) Agata Runowicz (centre in red skirt) and Mama Papu.

Sinakho coordinator, Millicent

A big thank you to Ingram and Lungi's Farm Stall

Sinakho's caregivers and children would like to thank Ingram and Lungi's Fresh Farm Stall in Grahamstown for their more than generous donations of fresh vegetables on a weekly basis. Good nutrition is essential for the children to ensure that their immune systems stay strong and they get all the goodness of greens to stay healthy. Above are Lungi and Sinakho's coordinator Millicent.

DA plants a tree for Sinakho

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Grahamstown came to plant a tree at Sinakho for Arbor Month. Above are the mothers and kids posing on a very sunny morning behind the newly planted tree. It was great fun for all the caregivers and the children and provided some great exposure for the Day Care. Thank you DA!

Our kids and caregivers!

Sinakho has an amazing team of care givers and wonderful children as well. Above are Zozi (cerebral palsy), his mother Pamela and Asemhle (club foot).

 Zukhanye (Down Syndrome)

Sinakho's manager Millicent works with Zanele (TB meningitis) in the Peter John Beer Stimulation Room at the Centre premises.

Inga (who suffers from seizures)

One of Sinakho's caregivers Mama Papu with Mlibo who is mentally handicapped

Who's currently working with us?

Sinakho is fortunate enough to have Hambisela working with our cerebral palsy children. Two therapists have already started training some of the mothers at the Day Care Centre and we look forward to the tips and techniques they have to share with us.

“The mission of Hambisela is to improve the level and intensity of therapeutically-correct ongoing care received by individuals affected by cerebral palsy in the broad community, to enable them to realise their maximum life potential.”

What we do!

This Day Care Centre provides stimulation to children with disabilities at pre-school and primary school level in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. All our caregivers are in fact mothers of disabled children and could not be better equipped to handle the children's needs and provide them with the best intellectual and physical stimulation. The Centre officially opened it's doors at the beginning of this year and has since gone from strength to strength and has provided much relief for parents from the surrounding community and the children themselves.