Thandanani Centre feels the warmth from Northcliff Rotary Club
The club hosted a fun day that had residents of the centre enjoy some time together
On one golden June afternoon, Thandanani Centre became more than just a psychiatric rehabilitation centre – it became a sanctuary of love, laughter, and healing.
All this, when Northcliff Rotary Club, joined by many kind-hearted souls, hosted a very special Fun Day.
The centre is home to adults living with severe psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder. As a registered non-profit licensed by the Gauteng Department of Mental Health, it provides not only structured care but also a space where residents are treated with dignity, supported in their rehabilitation, and uplifted as valuable members of society.
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Club members, Charmaine Govender and Clive Harper, organised the day, and their efforts seemed to embody Rotary’s spirit of Service Above Self. Harper expressed that the soul of the event was shaped by Rakasha Hoosen, who, together with her family and friends, dedicated their efforts in memory of her late husband. “In honouring his memory, she chose to pour love into the lives of others, turning grief into a gift of grace,” said Harper.
Together with those close to her, Hoosen prepared home-cooked meals for every guest. The food, described as having been made with love, brought not just nourishment but a sense of comfort and togetherness. “Every slice of cake and every spoonful of food felt like a hug on a plate. Not a crumb was left, a quiet testimony to the warmth with which it was received,” Harper described. In a deeply touching gesture, Hoosen also made sure every resident received a soft blanket and a cosy gown.
Gratitude also went to David Marshall, whose generous donation of beanies added both style and warmth to the day. As well as Martin Smith, whose musical equipment brought rhythm and joy, to which residents responded with unfiltered joy.
Harper explained that mental illness was often hidden from the world, wrapped in silence. “But on this day, silence was replaced by song, solitude by community, and stigma by compassion.” The collaboration of the Northcliff Rotary Club, the Hoosen family and friends, and generous contributors was what made this fun day a true celebration of shared humanity.
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