Tshepang Disabilities Creche and Boarding, just outside of Polokwane in Limpopo, is growing fast, and relying increasingly on help from the business community to house a growing number of children in need of specialised care. Answering the call, fibre infrastructure provider Vuma led the charge as the main sponsor of the centre’s recent facility upgrade project, while also canvassing other businesses and community leaders to get involved.
Tshepang is a centre for children between 1-15 years-old, and is situated in Unit G of Mankweng Township in Turfloop .
The centre was founded in 2019 by Rose Moratamotho. After struggling to find a suitable Early Childhood Development Centre for her autistic son, Rose saw a need to create a nurturing home for the township’s disabled children, often abandoned or neglected, due to their special needs.
“It is truly heart-breaking to watch defenceless children denied the care they need, simply because they come from poverty. We find them stuck in circumstances that set them up for a life of isolation and desperation,” Moratamotho says. “This donation may not seem like much, but targeted to a centre like ours and the problem we are trying to tackle, we have the opportunity to save many lives.”
The centre currently houses 22 children, 11 are daily learners while 11 are boarders, and expects to increase its capacity to 35 within the first quarter of 2023. Tshepang is open 24-seven and provides primary care, including diaper changes, feeding, washing and specialised toilet training, as most of the children are unable to walk.
Daily activities at the centre include physical exercise, bathroom routine, outdoor play and fundamental education, such as reading, writing, and other key subjects, striving to teach independence regardless of their situations.
Vuma has contributed necessities such as clothes, food, toiletries, nappies, tables, chairs, cleaning supplies, a portable sound system, collected used clothing and will provide free fibre Internet connectivity.
“It is richly rewarding to make such a deep impact on the lives of these fragile, yet resilient young people,” says Lehlasedi Nambo, Vuma Regional Sales Operations Manager, Limpopo. At Vuma, we strongly believe that we can empower the most vulnerable members of society to stand a chance at a happy and successful future. “To ensure that the effects of our positive work goes further, we will be working closely with Rose and her team to uplift the centre and motivate local community members and other businesses to donate or assist in any manner they can.”