A SPECIAL WAY OF CARING

HELPING INTELLECTUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS, THE CAREWAYS WORKSHOPS ENCOURAGE SELF-ESTEEM AND TEACHES BASIC SKILLS BY EXPOSURE TO STIMULATING ACTIVITIES

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Careways, the workshop for mentally challenged adults, which runs every weekday at the Kloof Methodist Church, and every Wednesday at the Siyanakekela Centre at the KwaNdengezi Methodist Church.

In our clamorous society where groups and individuals representing every cause shout out their demands and rights, there is a group marginalised and isolated – their voices rarely heard. Poorly represented, largely unknown, and few in number, they are truly disadvantaged and often forgotten.

In South Africa they are referred to as mentally handicapped or mentally disabled. The British have a less stigmatised term; people with a learning disability. In Western nations, members of this group are accorded respect, assistance, protection, choices, and opportunities the likes of which their peers in South Africa could never even dream of.

As for their parents, two perpetual questions hover like a doubled-edged sword: How can I give my child a richer, more stimulating life? What is going to happen to him/her when I am dead? To both questions there are no easy or comforting answers.

Once the children turn 18, they are asked to leave the special needs schools they attend, and it was in response to this question that the vision for Careways was born.

Ian Edwards, a member at Kloof Methodist Church, had the initial vision

Life is a social whirl at the workshop. It’s hard to keep up with birthdays, outings and activities. There have been visits to the movies, the library, the swimming pool, the water park and the beach, as well as game reserves. Special games are often arranged, like Odd-ball Olympics, Christmas parties are held at both centres, and over the last few years Careways members have been able to attend an annual camp – at Pennington, Ramsgate and Richmond.

At the end of every year the Careways Craft Market is held at Kloof Methodist Church or an alternative venue. The skills of the Careways members are impressive. They have their own stall, but crafters and others are invited to hire a table to sell their goods at the market.

The KwaNdengezi workshop currently has 13 members attending. Due to limited resources, they are sadly only able to scratch the surface of the need in the community. The workshop is run by a small team of volunteers and a manageress, Nomfusi Fica, who love the members and give of themselves sacrifi cially to care for them, to develop their potential and feed them breakfast and lunch. A simplifi ed version of the Kloof programme is used at Siyanakekela, which is mainly funded by its sister workshop in Kloof.

In the past, Careways ran a residential

to start a daily workshop for mentally challenged adults. As both a teacher and a parent of a mentally challenged child, Ian was able to set the programme and modus operandi in those early days. He chaired the board for a number of years, for which the Careways team are eternally grateful.

Careways, like the name suggests, is a caring organisation that reaches out to the intellectually impaired adult. Providing day care centres where those attending are involved in a variety of activities/outings, it also provides a service to families of those persons who have intellectual disabilities, as well as lifelong care in residential facilities.

Many lessons have been learned over the years, and the workshop programme has been refi ned and improved. Today

Careways run an integrated programme under the direction of workshop manageress, Tina Smith, and assistant manager, Tozama Nodada.

The programme includes academics, pottery, crafts, cooking, baking, sewing, life skills and other activities. New activities are being added from time to time. Music, exercise, and dancing are enjoyed. There are 23 regular members in the Kloof workshop, who attend on alternate days. The workshop’s maximum capacity per day is 18.

How can I give my child a richer, more stimulating life?

How can you help?

The fees are not suffi cient to meet all the costs of Careways, so much effort is put into raising funds. Annual events are held and donations from companies help sustain the work. The immediate goal is to raise funds to purchase a school bus, and to establish a residential care facility. Following that, there are simple material needs that would make the world of difference for both the members and their caregivers.

If you need further information or would like to contribute towards this very worthwhile project, please contact Reverend Peter Crundwell on 083 230 0034 or Tina Smith on 082 897 0085.

home in Richmond for about ten years. Unfortunately it closed a few years ago. The vision, however, has been revived. There is a small steering committee, made up mainly of family members, who are looking for a suitable property closer to the Kloof workshop. They are currently exploring ways of funding the purchase and running costs of a new Careways residential home. *

MAIN PICTURE: Joy Juckes and Madison Nel share a hug. TOP LEFT: Sian Edwards and Njabulo Ncgobo. MIDDLE LEFT: Nomfusi Fica, manageress at the Siyanakekela Centre in KwaNdengezi. LEFT: Tozama Nodada, Sonja Gladtz and Tina Smith.