Gifts for the children

Although this is a challenge faced by many families, some find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

Last week, local gospel artist Wandile Nkosi hosted a thanks giving event for the disabled children in Dunnottor and Kwatsaduza.

The day was inspired by her eight-year-old son Gosiame Moloi who suffers from epilepsy and is severely disabled.

After her son was born with little oxygen accessing his brain, his disability increased as he got older forcing her to quit her job to look after him full time.

As the years flew by and her son grew older, she realised that she needed to reach out to other moms.

Now in its fifth year, the event attracts many families who encourage others and offer advice on how to help disabled children live a normal life.

“This is our way of giving back to the children of the community who do not get to run around like other children,” she said

Wandile started the Gosiame Thanksgiving Day after she realised that many mothers out there need support and a break.

This encouraged her to find mothers, who were going through the same thing, to come together to talk about their challenges.

“I want people to know that having a disabled baby is not the end of the life you once dreamed of,” she added.

She wants to raise awareness and educate mothers on how to handle certain situations as well as how to care for their children.

Her aim in the future is to open a day school for children who are severely disabled.

At the moment she is using all the money she collects from her music to finance annual trips and fun days for her support group.

“With the correct funding I am hoping to give mothers the opportunity to have a break and rest assured that during the day, their children are taken care of,” she concludes.

The day ended off with gifts,singing, food and games for the families and their children.

“Our children do not need to live a life of confinement, they too are normal children who need as much love as they can get,” she concluded.