Apricot Tree receives R20 000 donation

The Northmead-based Apricot Tree centre of stimulation and development was over the moon with excitement, on May 21.

Sabrina Miles (19), from Rynfield, held a fundraiser on April 26, at the Benoni Country Club, in partnership with Simon Hardman, from Irish Tequilas.

Miles raised R20 000 for the special needs school.

With the money raised she bought daily essentials the school required.

She also purchased a board maker solution and a joy stick from the United Kingdom.

The board maker solution will help the learners to learn with pictures, and the joy stick will assist with control and writing with the pupils’ feet.

“It’s a good feeling to be able to help, these kids are my passion,” said Miles.

The handover was received by Eloise du Plessis, the principal of the school.

“I think its an opportunity for our learners to develop life skills that they wouldn’t have been able to develop,” said du Plessis.

Apricot Tree Centre is a non-profit organisation founded in 2009.

The centre accepts children from three to 23 years, with varying intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Children catered for in the centre have unique disabilities often not accepted in the public or mainstream special needs school.

Apricot Tree has three teachers and classes are kept to a maximum of seven children per teacher.

The school has 12 facilitators, who help the learners and assist during class activities.

The centre has 19 children and cannot accommodate more due to space.

The school relies on external funding for equipment, buildings, training and other development needs.

For more information regarding donations, contact du Plessis on 072 269 4345.