There’s a saying that every child is a different kind of flower, and all together, they make this world a beautiful garden.
In the Fish Hoek Valley, many of these special flowers are fortunate to call Sinethemba Special Care Centre, a day care that focuses on children with severe special needs, their home from home. In a heartwarming moment in time, a small community effort of local volunteers, championed by local businesses Stoked Surf and African Blue Accessible Tours, saw 56 Sinethemba Children and staff, wheelchairs in tow, delighted by a recent visit to Fish Hoek beach.
The excursion, a resounding success, is just one of the many uplifting and special experiences in the long journey of the centre that goes back over 70 years. Today, Sinethemba’s focus is on children with conditions like Autism, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy to name a few.
More than that, it is a place of hope and dignity where staff and volunteers collect the children every morning and return them home in the afternoons, which is a vital part of their mission. From there, the aim is to assist the children to become as independent as possible. For some, this means integration into a mainstream environment, but for many others it is provide comfort, love, daily stimulation, and support to their families.
Part time physiotherapy and occupational therapy, as well as the support of Red Cross Children’s Hospital is also a focus of Sinethemba. In addition, the centre also receives referrals from 2 Mil, Victoria and False Bay hospitals and works closely with all of these medical facilities to ensure the health of the children.
In terms of staff, the centre is guided by a dedicated Management Committee of volunteers, including a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and two additional community members. The daily team of professionals is led by a senior social worker serving as the CEO, a personal assistant, six childcare workers, five assistant childcare workers, a part-time cook, a cleaner, and a driver who acts as the handyman and gardener.
Sinethemba is a non-profit and public benefit organisation – for more information or to find out how to supply gifts or join the volunteer programme visit https://sinethemba.info/
To donate to the Sinethemba Help Fund – deposits can be made to:
Standard Bank, Fish Hoek, Branch code: 051 001, Account Number: 07 209 9194
