The newly revamped Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre in Soweto offers a caring environment where children with multiple disabilities learn and play.
MME Prisca Thembekile Tshabalala is a middle-aged, munificent mother from Orlando West, in Soweto.
She has lost three of her five children - two died at birth. Her youngest, Nkanyezi, meaning star, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was a few months old; he died of the chronic neurological illness at the age of 11.
The façade has a mural depicting Mme Prisca Thembekile Tshabalala and her son Nkanyezi
The condition had affected communication between his brain and muscle tones, and had led to impaired mobility and the asymmetrical posture of his spine, leaving him wheelchair-bound.
Tshabalala says she tried everything to keep her son alive during those agonising 11 years - from physical and occupational therapy to speech therapy and drugs - to try to control his seizures, relax his muscle spasms and alleviate the pain. Sadly, these interventions could only last that long.
Although cerebral palsy is an incurable disease, modern medicine enables sufferers to enjoy near-normal lives, if their condition is detected early and managed properly.
Almost nine years after Nkanyezi's death, Tshabalala is a beacon of hope to many Soweto children who have an assortment of disabilities, providing care and shelter for them at the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre. This is all done in tribute to her son.
"I think it is through the birth of my son that I actually got into this kind of work. God knows what I would have done or become had Nkanyezi been born a normal child," notes the soft spoken Tshabalala.
Upgrade
In August 2008, City Parks and Standard Bank donated more than R1 175 000 towards the upgrading of the centre and its park.
Enjoying the merry-go-round in Joburg’s first stimulation park
With the money, the centre's façade was revamped and overhauled, it was repainted and a mural depicting Tshabalala, Nkanyezi and other children from the centre was painted on the backyard wall.
In just under 24 hours, a bare piece of land in the playground was transformed into a green oasis. It was then furnished and fitted with a variety of wheelchair-friendly swings, a paved alley and wheelchair maze, and a large water feature, which sprays water in all directions, creating an eye-catching splendour.
There is also a touch-and-smell greenhouse vegetable garden where green peppers, spinach, tomatoes and other vegetables are grown; there are thriving indigenous trees, flower beds and a sprawling green lawn.
The rainbow colours and paintings on the walls have been very stimulating for the children, as has the garden, the park and the whole new outlook, notes Tshabalala. "The fast growing green trees, the water feature, flowers, the greenhouse vegetable garden and flower beds help with stimulation, meditation and serenity."
The completed park is only part of phase one of the centre's overall development programme, headed by City Parks, the custodian of Joburg's open spaces. In the near future, it will raise funds to build an amphitheatre on site, ensuring that the children are able to view the 2010 World Cup football matches.
Disabled
It is a City Park priority to urge city planners, developers and the corporate sector to consider the needs of disabled people when erecting structures or buildings; its primary aim is to make parks accessible to all.
Joburg's first stimulation park designed solely for children with physical, sensory and intellectual impairments, the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre is a stone's throw from Orlando Stadium, on Armitage Street in Orlando West Gardens.
"This centre raises the flag for people with disabilities. We are proud of what our sponsors have done to transform this ordinary place into an indoor haven for our children that are generally marginalised due to their challenges," Tshabalala adds.
The beautiful environment that is the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre
Since this major boost, life has been both demanding and rewarding. "The upgrading of the centre last year and the park has changed our lives as the management and that of the children very much."
One benefit is an improved self-esteem among the children, Tshabalala says.
Twelve-year-old Tumelo Bori and his friends Ntombikayise Gumede, Bongumusa Radebe, Sandile Ntombela and Oratilwe Madiba are some of the children at the centre. Tumelo has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound, while Bongumusa is blind; however, this doesn't deter their cheerfulness.
Playing on the swings under the sweltering sun, Tumelo shouts with delight and laughter. His teachers say this is a good sign that he is adapting well to such an environment, and is enjoying the experience of being on the swings.
Although Tumelo can't speak, he is a good listener who hears everything said to him, and responds positively through body actions, says Tshabalala. Ntombikayise is a very quiet child but is lively on the swings and around the park.
Great feeling
"The upgrading of the centre has raised a lot of awareness about children with disabilities and we have been receiving a lot of phone calls - more often than in the past - with people requesting more information and wanting to enrol their children here," Tshabalala says, explaining the feeling as great.
Outside, those children with limited speech tease one another with hand gestures and every face wears a smile. "This is a very beautiful environment for them, and they love it."
Each child is given special attention both inside and outside the class. "The only time we don't know what is happening with our kids is when they are at home."
Despite the positive changes, Tshabalala's days are not without challenges, with some members of the community questioning why the project was selected or worthy of such funding. But Tshabalala remains unfazed.
The outdoor activities stimulate the kids' minds a lot and their job as management is to encourage all children to be stimulated.
Staff
The Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre has eight staff members, four of whom are caregivers; there is a handyman, an administrator, the centre manager or principal, and the chef.
For every meal of the day, a special diet is prepared according to each child's medical requirements. After eating, the children are taken outside their classrooms to enjoy a breath of fresh air. "We [supervise them] as this is the only way to avoid any unforeseen incidents," notes Vusi Khumalo, Tshabalala's assistant.
Wearing a blue apron to protect her pink top and long white skirt, Tshabalala is poised when she reminisces about the turbulent time she shared with her son, and the prospects of a brighter future.
Her fluffy grey hair is neat, and the motherly look is complemented by black and maroon spectacles which drip on to her nose. Speaking about Nkanyezi's death, she remembers that she had a premonition. Her transitional glasses lighten as she sits in the shade. "Come to think of it, I think I did think about Nkanyezi's death long before it occurred."
She quickly holds back her tears, and sits back to breathe.
On his death bed, Tshabalala promised Nkanyezi that she would continue caring for children with disabilities. "I made a commitment to Nkanyezi that I will continue to ... care for all children with cerebral palsy, and I will not let go of this course."
Strength
To say she is strong is an understatement. Her good deeds and profound love for what she does cannot go unnoticed. Tshabalala has been hauled over coals in getting to where she is today; she was ridiculed by community members for giving birth to Nkanyezi, and her divorce was sparked by the child's illness.
However, these experiences have made her stronger and even more compassionate towards children with disabilities. She says she now understands what her life's purpose is.
"A lot of people approach me and ask how I can find fulfilment in such turbulent situations. My response is that this is a gift from God and I have chosen to embrace it."
A woman of great faith, Sis-Thembi, as she is referred to at the centre, explains that all the turbulent times she has been through were a message that God was preparing her for great things. "Had I not given birth to such a child as Nkanyezi, who knows, I wouldn't care what happens with children with such disabilities," Tshabalala says, adding that her life and job is a test of true character.
Tshabalala is unwavering, because "we are all dedicated to assuring the wellbeing of these children, nothing else".
Although the centre used to be called Dimpho, which loosely translates as gifts, she says it was renamed Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre after a heart-rending parents meeting, were parents of the pupils asked to have it renamed in Nkanyezi's memory.
Triumphant
Despite her fair share of tribulations, Tshabalala has emerged triumphant and is proud of her centre, staff and children, which she says were born of blood and sweat.
Over the festive holiday, she repainted some parts of the centre. Her dream is to have a visitors' waiting room, a hall, and a craft room, among other things. At present it has a kitchen, a large bathroom and three toilets, three classrooms and the newly refurbished dining room.
"My dream is to turn the centre from an ordinary to an excellent one," she says.
More than 30 learners are registered for 2009. The school fee is R220 a month; a once-off R20 is payable upon registration of each child. It is through the compassion of members of the Soweto community who offer their cars as transport, that the children are able to travel to and from school.
Before setting up the centre, Tshabalala was a family support worker and a caregiver in state institutions. She is a member of the national Disabled Children's Action Group and she still attends workshops and training programmes to equip herself with knowledge and education.
She is no stranger to philanthropic community initiatives, many of which have earned her recognition and several accolades. They include a nomination for the Shoprite Checkers SABC2 Woman of the Year competition in 2003 and 2007; a certificate for Community Builder of the Year; a finalist in the Sowetan Old Mutual SABC Community Builder of the Year Award; overall winner of the Women's Achiever Award and finalist in the Gauteng Premier's Woman Achiever Awards and the overall winner in the Hamlet Foundation Awards, for being an outstanding caregiver to children with multiple disabilities.
"All these achievements have made me humble," she notes.
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