Take on the Gateway Challenge

The Gateway Society launched their School Class Challenge in April. The society challenged various schools in their area to support The Gateway Society, but also to have the youth become involved in a non-profit organisation to enable them to get a better understanding of persons with mental and physical disabilities.

The challenge ended at the end of July with a Walk for Charity at their premises. This offered pupils from other schools in the area the opportunity to interact with the villagers and understand what their dreams are for the future.

The winner of the floating trophy was Currro Aurora Intermediate Phase that managed to raised R24 694 for the Village’s cause. The winner in the points category was Maragon Private Schools with almost 30 points.

Both schools’ efforts helped to raise almost R30 000 towards a sports field for the Village.

The Gateway Society wishes to re-launch the project and challenges schools in their next School Class Challenge to raise more money to complete their sports field. The Society consists of The Gateway School and The Gateway Village, which caters for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities on adjacent properties in Roodepoort. They will celebrate their 42nd birthday in November and will continue to offer the essential care, stimulation, education and training in life skills to ensure a reasonable quality of life and dignity for everybody in their care.

The Gateway School is a public school for pupils with special educational needs. It renders services to pupils with an intellectual disability from ages three to 18 years, and represents the entire South African community. A fleet of 18 mini buses transport the children to and from the school on a daily basis.

The Gateway Village offers an informal lifestyle for permanent residents, as well as day-care facilities with sheltered workshops for the residents and the day workers. There are seven residences on the property that each provides love and care by a housemother and a relief housemother. There are two residents per bedroom and each house has 12 residents. The Nedcor Hi-Care Centre has trained staff 24 hours per day and provides for the needs of those with limited mobility.The home for elderly residents is under construction on the property with funds that were raised over the past decade. It is a R3-million development that will house 24 new residents who will be cared for by six specially trained housemothers.

The Village currently has 93 permanent residents, 73 day workers are bused into the Village daily and 350 pupils attend the school.

The Gateway Society will be hosting their annual charity Golf Day on 30 September but needs a corporate sponsor. The event will carry the sponsor’s name and they will be able to brand the hall in which the prize-giving will be held.