25 years of caring for the marginalised community

IN celebration of their 25th anniversary, Careways in the Kloof area reminisced on the work they have done in building awareness of people with learning disabilities. The Careways is a workshop for adults from 18 years with learning disabilities that runs every weekday at the Kloof Methodist church and every Wednesday at the Siyanakekela workshop in KwaNdengezi Methodist Church. Jackie Scullard, a board member of the organisation, said they were established in response to the enormous need for services for people with a learning disability. There are 23 regular members in the workshop, who attend on alternate days. The workshop’s maximum capacity per day is 18.

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“The idea for Careways was born out of the obvious question asked: ‘What will happen to these children when they become adults?’ 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.
“Mr Ian Edwards was a member at Kloof Methodist Church who had the initial vision to start a daily workshop for mentally challenged adults. As a teacher and as a parent with a mentally challenged child, he was able to set up the programme and modus operandi in those early days. He chaired the board for a number of years. We cannot express our gratitude for all that he did,” she said.

Scullard said they are in awe of the progress they have made in the past 25 years.“The need for this kind of workshop is so widespread within the community that there has never been a shortage of applications for people to join. Many lessons have been learned over the years, and the workshop programme has been refined and improved. Today, we run an integrated programme under the direction of our workshop manager, 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,” she said.

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Scullard said their aim is to carry on with the work they do and make the environment conducive and more fun for their learners. “Our immediate goal is to raise funds to purchase a school bus for our centres, and to establish a residential care facility for our members. Following that, there are simple material needs that would make the world of difference for both the members and their caregivers, at both our workshops in Kloof and KwaNdengezi, as well as our main fundraising drive set up to establish a residential home in the area,” she said.

The organisation said they are asking for funding for building/buying a property for a permanent residential care facility, R4m worth of furniture and equipment for the new house, and a vehicle to make outings possible – 15-seater vehicle or larger. Furthermore, they need a sponsored full-time employee at the KwaNdengezi centre and craft materials for both centres. The public interested in contributing towards this project is welcomed to contact the chairman, Reverend Peter Crundwell, at 083 230 0034 or Tina Smith at the Kloof workshop at 082 897 0085.