San Salvador Home, a Hyde Park-based place of safety for women with intellectual disabilities, commemorated 90 years of providing love and life-long care at a protective workshop recently, while preparing to move to another residence.

The home currently houses 58 women with intellectual disabilities, and some with physical disabilities as well. Many of the residents and attendees at the workshop are from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds, and some are without families and support systems. San Salvador Home is the only home they know, and they have nowhere else to go. The longest-standing resident has been part of this community for over 30 years.

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Ronelle Sartor, the general manager, noted that it was heartbreaking to be informed that the property, occupied by the organisation since 1936, is to be sold for commercial development, and that the organisation, which is a non-profit organisation with very limited resources and funds, is being forced to either close or find a way of continuing its care and services elsewhere.

“In my many years here, I have watched these women build a life within these walls. Friendships, routines, and a genuine sense of belonging and community cannot simply be packed into a box and moved.”

She highlighted that the transition was going to be hard for the residents. Moving to a different area would also result in the staff losing the support and involvement from donors, stakeholders, community groups, schools, and even universities and training institutions who use San Salvador Home as a practical training opportunity for students who study medical and human sciences courses.

Whilst a potential new property has been identified, renovation costs to bring the facility to the required standard are estimated at R6m.

San Salvador Home is appealing to businesses, trust funds, and generous donors to help raise this large sum, and welcomes any enquiries and assistance.
The quotation for moving costs alone is estimated at R250 000. A BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise this from the public.

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How to help:

The Home needs a facility or property, if anyone is prepared to offer it, assistance with moving costs:

donations and logistical support, furniture and kitchen equipment for the new premises, donations of paints, bricks, paving, building supplies, etc, financial assistance and donations to cover building costs, and assistance with installing solar power.

Section 18A certificates will be provided, and donors and sponsors will be acknowledged (eg: buildings will be named after them.)

For more information visit www.sansalvadorhome.org. or contact Ronelle Sartor via email: ronelle@sansalvadorhome.org or telephone 010 449 6459 or 0828788630.

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