Organisation brings disability awareness to Thembisa
Hosting the event at Kgauhelo, an established centre offering services to children with disabilities, was a fitting choice.
The Central Gauteng Mental Health Society hosted an Intellectual Disabilities Awareness event on April 12 at the Kgauhelo Stimulation Centre in Thembisa.
The day was dedicated to raising awareness, promoting inclusion, and celebrating the strengths and contributions of individuals living with intellectual disabilities.
Hosting the event at Kgauhelo, an established centre offering services to children with disabilities, was a fitting choice.
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It served as a reminder of the important role such organisations play in communities where many parents and caregivers face the challenge of raising children with unique needs, often without sufficient support.
“This event aims to educate, inspire and encourage those living with intellectual disabilities, and to foster a more inclusive society that embraces them,” said organisers from the Central Gauteng Mental Health Society.
Thembisa is home to a large number of families caring for children with various disabilities.
In many cases, caregivers are left to navigate these challenges on their own.
Centres like Kgauhelo provide not only stimulation and care but also a vital support network.
The founder of Kgauhelo Stimulation Centre, Lina Mabaso, shared her deeply personal story of starting the centre in 1998 after struggling to find placement for her child with an intellectual disability.
“When I approached centres in and outside of Thembisa, I was told they were full. That’s when I decided to start my own daycare,” she said.
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The centre began in Maokeng and later moved to its current location.
Over the past 25 years, Kgauhelo has become a place of refuge and empowerment for parents and children alike.
But the journey has not been without its difficulties. “Our biggest challenge remains land,” said Mabaso.
“We’ve had potential donors ready to build us a proper facility, but without land in Thembisa, we can’t move forward. I’ve been appealing to the City of Ekurhuleni for years, even after the President encouraged them to assist, but nothing has happened.
“Now, I’m facing the risk of losing our licence because the property we lease is in debt to the city. This threatens the future of the centre and the children who depend on it.”
David Kgatle, a social worker from the Central Gauteng Mental Health Society, emphasised the importance of working together to uplift those affected by intellectual disabilities.
“Our mission is to collaborate with and support organisations like Kgauhelo. These centres are doing vital work in ensuring individuals with intellectual disabilities are not overlooked.
“We’re here to empower, educate and provide services to both the individuals and the centres that care for them.”
