Learners at Matshidiso School honour Madiba’s legacy
“The children are not disabled but able, and can be placed in any working environment which will cater to their needs,” he says.
Tsakane – The learners at Matshidiso School, a school for children with special needs, spent their 67 minutes on Mandela Day with a sports day and their favourite celebrities.
The celebrities included Dr Matthews Phosa, who is the chairperson of the Board of Directors Special Olympics SA, AKA, Mark Fish, actress Quinne Brown and Lucas Radebe.
The school caters for 288 learners from Rathanda, Duduza, Tsakane, KwaThema and other neighbouring areas who could not be absorbed into normal schools because of their learning conditions.
Also read: Polo driver damages Matshidiso Special School fence and flees
Mrs SA and Mrs World 2016 Candice Abraham says they are walking in the footsteps of the late president.
“He loved the children and wanted them to be well taken care and have access to education.
“Children with special needs have a special place in my heart because I am a mother of two and I love children.
“I always want to ensure that they are well taken care of and feel loved because many in their communities treat them differently.
“We also understand that their parents are often overwhelmed and need someone to help cater to their needs.
“We are saying to them that we are here and care for their health,” she says.
Brown urged residents not to treat children with special needs differently or be scared to interact with them.
“Like other children, they deserve to be loved and treated fairly.
“There is no need to be scared of them; by avoiding them you are missing out on experiencing yourself,” she says.
Deputy chairperson of Special Olympic South Africa Melanie Ramjee says she is urging local business people to help whenever they can to fund some of the trips the children have to take to compete at events across the world.
Also read: KwaThema Primary School learners taught that sharing is caring
“Many of the children come from poor backgrounds and their parents are often unable to afford to get them to the competitions.
“They are all our children and we should always remember that it takes a village to raise a child,” she says.
School principal Thapelo Tsetlo says he is appealing to parents and the community to help take care of the children.
“We should not call them names and remove the stigma attached to children with special needs.
“The children are not disabled but able, and can be placed in any working environment which will cater to their needs,” he says.
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