Tumelo has a whole lot of faith

The centre was founded in 1996 by Dr Moses Thindisa and his wife Orianah.

The home currently accommodates 36 children between the ages of four to eighteen.

Most of the children are brought to the home because they have been orphaned or abandoned or because they need special care, according to a court order.

The centre has a staff of about ten which includes a nurse, outsourced occupational therapist, caregivers, gardeners, a cook and a domestic worker.

Tumelo has a vegetable garden which supplies the residents with fresh vegetables during summer.

They have also started a chicken rearing programme which they hope will soon provide a steady source of income for the home.

A typical day for Tumelo residents starts early at 5am when the children wake up and are bathed by the caregivers as most are unable to bathe themselves.

During the day the Tumelo residents do arts and crafts activities which stimulate their minds but in the afternoon they are free to play or help in the garden.

Managing director of Tumelo Home for the Disabled Solly Khuthama said, “There are many challenges that come with running the home. We have educational challenges in terms of stimulating the children’s minds and offering them the care they need but we also have obvious financial difficulties.”

The home needs donations from the community in order to help the children that they care for.

The resources they need most urgently are nappies, food supplies and medicines but they also desperately need a washing machine, clothes dryer and generator.

Khuthama said, “Tumelo is registered as a non-profit organisation through the Department of Health but the government alone cannot provide all the resources we need daily. We need donations and help from the community.”

The word Tumelo means ‘faith’ – Khuthama and his staff certainly have faith that with the help of the community they will continue to offer care and support to the mentally and physically disabled children of Ivory Park.