Ethembeni pupils walk in style
"Learners were delighted to receive the walkers, as they had been struggling to get new walkers through government."
ETHEMBENI School for the Disabled in Cato Ridge was overjoyed to receive twelve much-needed, brand-new walkers from Setzkorn Health and Wealth Consulting.
Every year, the business donates travel mugs as mementos to the Ethembeni graduates at their final prize-giving assembly. At last year’s handover, the Setzkorn family became distinctly aware of the need for walkers, and this became part of their personal and corporate social responsibility initiative for this year.
A staff member from Ethembeni said the learners were delighted to receive the walkers, as they had been struggling to get new walkers through government.
Every year, Fallon Setzkorn, a Grade 12 pupil at St Mary’s DSG, chooses a different charity to get involved in The Jess Food Foundation and the SPCA were amongst them.
“The St Mary’s motto is, ‘Service before self and God before all’, so giving back to those less fortunate than us is part of our make-up,” said Fallon.
Ethembeni School thrives on discipline, stimulation and pupil activity. Established in 1984, the state-subsidised school caters for learners with physical disabilities or who are visually-impaired. The school has a total enrolment of 300 learners, all of whom board in hostels on the grounds.
The school follows the mainstream curriculum from the foundation stage up to Grade 7, and then offers skills training for learners who have completed their academic education. These skills include agriculture, literacy, numeracy, technology, life skills, hairdressing, woodwork and needlework, amongst others. One-hundred-and-four dedicated and passionate staff members form part of the establishment, consisting of educators, therapists, nursing staff, a psychologist and caregivers.
“Handing over the walkers to the learners at Ethembeni was a highlight for me. I was amazed by how the learners care for each other. Each of them has different disabilities and each of them uses the abilities they have to help each other. It was an experience I will never forget,” added Fallon.
