Thandanani residents spoiled during Scizophrenia Awareness Week

Residents of the Thandanani Centre were treated to a hearty breakfast last Friday (23 May).

The Thandanani Centre Brothers of Charity Service is a non-profit organisation located in Florida that cares for the psychiatrically ill. The organisation falls under the international Brothers of Charity, which is a congregation of Catholic Brothers with their head office in Belgium. Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 May marked Schizophrenia Awareness Week internationally and the month of May is observed as Mental Health Month internationally.

The 61 residents of Thandanani Centre as well as staff members were treated to a sponsored breakfast at Wimpy in Flora Centre in Florida Park. Brother Anthony Colpaert from Belgium sponsored the breakfast and invited Miss Earth finalist Amanda Favel as his special guest. Residents and staff were taken to the restaurant in shifts to enjoy the sponsored meals. Restaurant owner Dolly van Niekerk worked closely with the group to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

“I think what the Centre does for the psychiatrically ill is absolutely wonderful and I hope to work more closely with them in future,” Favel later said.

Attending the breakfast was the least of what she had planned on doing at the Centre, Favel said. She wishes to do a mural at the centre and host fundraisers for them as some of her future projects.

“Places like the Thandanani Centre break down the negative stereotypes that society holds about the psychiatrically ill and I fully support their notion to keep their residents gainfully occupied and supported.”