Meet the founder of Swana School

COMMITTED to serving others and impart knowledge, founder, director and occupational therapist at Swana School and Assessment Centre, Nomakhaya Swana, has a simple motto: ‘work hard and be good to people’.

The dynamic 44-year-old is passionate about equipping children through education to help them reach their full potential.

‘The school was started to offer special remedial and developmental education for children requiring additional attention to ensure they catch up on essential skills,’ said Swana.

‘The children at Swana School are educable, whereas at Thuthukani Special School they are trainable.

‘As an occupational therapist, I conducted several assessments and noticed there was a lack of facilities for children who needed to bridge the gap.

‘Children were educable, but owing to early childhood circumstances did not have the essential developmental building blocks required to begin formal education.

Hailing from the small town of Flaggstaff in the Eastern Cape, and the second of seven children, Swana graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a BSc in occupational therapy.

She was then appointed at Ngwelezana Hospial, and that is where her passion to help children started.

‘I had seen so many children who had been deemed mentally retarded and were in actual fact just lacking stimulation.

‘The problem arose after they had been assessed, and I had nowhere to place them. That’s when I started a private practice and formed the school.

‘There were many challenges, but a parent, Bheki Nxumalo, was a great help in generating funds for the school and eventually we got registered with the Department of Social Development and Education.

‘It is so rewarding to see a pupil’s fine motor skills being refined and their confidence and self-esteem flourishing. Words cannot express how passionately I love what I do.’ she said.

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, a good book, but more especially arts and crafts.