The centre has eight caregivers and five administration staff and provides 24-hour care for the children.

Big thanks to South Coast Herald and CC Photography for this great article and photos!

Giorgio Express recently gave Othandweni Cerebral Palsy Day Care Centre a kind donation and Giorgio is now challenging other businesses to help them tick items off their wish list.

The centre, situated in Gamalakhe, takes care of 20 intellectually challenged children with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder associated with the loss or impairment of motor function.

Mirka Wessels of Giorgio Express said Vijay Naidoo, president of the South Coast Chamber of Commerce, contacted them after they had identified an organisation in need. “They sent us Othandweni’s list of needs and we decided to sponsor a signboard for this worthy centre,” she said.

Pic: Craig Botha CC Photography.

Photographer Craig Botha said, when he visited the centre, he was amazed at the care these children received. “The staff is so patient and passionate about the children, it was really touching,” he added.

The centre was founded by Sibongile Biyela after she gave birth to a child who was physically and mentally challenged in the late 1990s, and later decided to establish an organisation to care for the children with special needs in 1997.

Pic: Craig Botha, CC Photography.

In 1997, Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (then Hibiscus Coast) gave them a four-room house and, in 2015, Dutch couple Jan van der Waart (47) and his wife Louise (50) helped build an impressive care centre, which caters for 10 children boarding and 10 children for day care, aged from eight to 18 years.

“The centre has eight caregivers and five administration staff and provides 24-hour care to the children.”

The overall goal of the organisation is to offer education, training and care to intellectually challenged children and young adults in Ugu District. The centre is currently desperate for nappies and food.

Pic: Craig Botha, CC Photography.

Find out how you can help them tick off items on their wish list by contacting 039 3181000, Sibongile at 083 5462517 or Mark at 061 4405500.

• Shona Aylward, Journalist – South Coast Herald

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Source: https://southcoastherald.co.za/242143/help-gamalakhes-care-centre-wishes-come-true/