Fun walk raises awareness for children with autism
Tshegofatsong is hoping that the government can assist in creating more special schools around Mamelodi as it is the only school in the area for kids with special needs.
Dozens of people flooded the streets of Mamelodi East on Saturday, April 20, to raise awareness for autism during the Tshegofatsong autism fun walk campaign.
The event started at Phahameng Clinic at 09:00 with everyone dancing and singing together, ending at Ikaheng Hall.
Tshegofatsong Special School provide programmes for people who want to learn more about autism and training for the people who work at the school so that they have the capabilities to deal with special children.
Moloko Mamabolo and Simon Malobolo are the drivers of the school and said they have been attending the programmes to learn more about how to deal with the children.
Event organiser Naomi Mampana said “We have seen how our community stigmatise people who are autistic. Some do not want autistic people near them as they believe that they are crazy.
“We took it upon ourselves as Tshegofatsong Special School alongside our sponsors to create awareness about autism and to educate those who do not know what autism is.”
According to Moloko and Simon, it is important to know each child and how they behave, in case of an emergency.
They said they learned to be patient as these children react differently to different situations.
“We wish that our community can accept these kids and treat them just like other children in the township,” he said.
The main event was full of fun with traditional dances entertaining the children, while the learners of Tshegofatsong performed for the public by reciting poems, singing, and dancing traditional dances.
Rinky Ngonyama, a parent to a 15-year-old autistic boy, said: “I always took my son as a normal boy and I always thought that he was naughty till he started school. The teachers picked up that he was not behaving like other kids of his age and we started to go to the hospital and that’s where he was diagnosed.”
Tshegofatsong Special School is planning to have more events as the first one was successful.
Mampana said they are hoping that the government can recognise these children and provide more special schools around.
Tshegofatsong is the only school in Mamelodi for children with special needs and accommodates children from the neighbouring communities.
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