Help children thrive at enrichment centre
The Dinamus Enrichment Centre for children with learning disabilities in Tzaneen is calling on the community to help them fund and expand the facility.
The centre currently has 23 learners in three classes with three teachers and three teaching assistants. Charmaine Fourie, teacher, and principal of the centre explains the centre was founded in 2013 in their quest to find a place of nurture and development for children with various learning disabilities.
“The class at a local primary school was closed in 2013 and we started the centre with nine children that year. Today we have 23 learners and we receive a lot of inquiries,” she explains. “We are not a mainstream school with a regular curriculum. We are a private centre where children who cannot cope with a normal school, can be helped, “she explains.
They do this by teaching children all basic skills, such as reading, writing, and functional maths. They also place an emphasis on practical life skills such as cooking classes, music therapy classes, woodwork classes, and computer classes. The children need lots of individual attention and receive meals at the centre daily.
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Children with speech impairments, moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, autism, down syndrome, and ADD/ADHD can find a safe haven and interactive place of learning at Dinamus Enrichment Centre. The closest school that can accommodate children with learning disabilities is a boarding school in Polokwane according to Fourie.
“We have big dreams for the centre, while we need assistance with the running costs involved with caring for children with special needs we would also like to expand the current centre to include additional bathrooms and more kitchen space for our cooking classes,” says Fourie.
Fourie says that while they do charge a monthly fee at the centre, they are largely dependant on sponsors and volunteers for excursions, educational tools and therapeutic classes. “We welcome people who would like to donate funds, building materials, educational tools and toys as well as their time,” says Fourie.
The Dinamus Enrichment Centre for children with learning disabilities is a Social Development Project and Non-Profit Orginisation. Some children come from difficult economic backgrounds and if you would like to sponsor a child’s school fees, donate funds or volunteer your time or help contact Charmaine Fourie on 082 855 4415.
