A mother of the mentally disabled in Blue Hills shares journey
Sina Nkwe, Novalis House workshop manager urge small and big companies to give the workshop contract work to ensure the workshop functions properly.
After being married to a husband who was blind, Sina Nkwe fell in love with taking care of the disabled.
Nkwe (73) said she started as a teacher assistant at Casa do Sol School in Randburg in about 1980 where she looked after the mentally disabled.
Now 43 years later, Nkwe is still going strong as her childhood passion to look after the disabled continues.
The mother of two daughters is currently the workshop manager of Novalis House where she ensures that the disabled children they care for, are given contract work to keep them busy.
Speaking to Midrand Reporter on August 10, a day after the National Women’s Day celebrations, on the home’s farm in Blue Hills, Midrand, she said, “In 1989, my former principal at Casa do Sol approached me and asked to start a class to teach young people who have finished Grade 12 to help the learners do handwork,” recalled Nkwe.
She said this was an opportunity for her to flourish as she ran various programmes such as cleaning, cooking and handwork. Nkwe said she later introduced a programme to help the mentally disabled learn how to do their laundry and iron.
She added she was at her happy place when dealing with disabled people.
“The journey has been great. We have some challenges here and there but being here has been great. I don’t think many people my age are still working. I am happy because the residents keep me busy.”
Born in a family of eight siblings, Nkwe is the third born and said her family was important to her. She grew up in Sophiatown and Soweto.
She said at Novalis House, they were one big, happy family. She heaped praise on the home’s manager, Mary Owen, and all the staff for the unwavering support that they gave each other to ensure that the community of the disabled was catered for.
Nkwe thanked all the small and big businesses who continued supporting the Novalis House workshop by giving them handwork to do.
In conclusion, Nkwe had advice for all women. “Women, let’s work hard. We are leaders and role models and this young person should look at us with admiration. As we model the behaviour of our well-being, we want this young person to follow suit.”
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