The Queen Butterfly Foundation needs help from the community to find a place where they can expand their school.
Vice principal Julie Botha explained the organisation has just celebrated their eighth year of success after it was founded by Palesa Mofokeng in 2015. However, they require a larger residence in the Wilro Park area. Even though they are currently being accommodated by the Gereformeerde Kerk Wilro Park, they hope to find a rental property by January 2024.
She noted they hope to find a three to four-bedroom house in ‘a safe and secure location so that they can settle down and accept the children on their waiting list’.
Rozette Botha, the fundraising chairperson for Queen Butterfly, explained the aim is to find a permanent place, as the school can’t grow without it. She added they are currently trying to raise funds to rent a place with the intent of buying it. She mentioned they want a place they can develop as the school grows and according to the needs of the children.
The NPO is focused on helping profoundly disabled children and young persons. She added they do one-on-one intensive training with the children. The school also allows for a small teacher-to-student ratio. This means fewer students are assigned to each teacher, which means they can receive better care and attention.
“They do programmes and physio to promote the children’s quality of life. They do incredible work. I saw where a blind child came in with other disabilities as well, who couldn’t read braille, but he learned to,” said Rozette.
“Queen Butterfly is unique in that it is not a daycare center. It provides specialised, professionally structured one-on-one programmes in a loving environment for each child who attends school Monday to Friday at their facility, run by their skilled and devoted teachers,” said Julie.
Rozette continued to say they try to make their school fees as affordable as possible and they do not get government funding, which is why funding is always needed.
Rozette just walked 230km on the Spanish Camino and was able to raise R36 000 through Backabuddy crowdfunding. She urged the community to help by visiting their website at www.queenbutterfly.org.za or donating to the Backabuddy campaign by following the link: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/walk-for-premises-for-queen-butterfly-foun. Further, they would also appreciate the community’s support at their golf day on November 10 at the Reading Golf Course.
