Forest Town School acting principal Ronalda Lucas was jumping for joy on 22 November when the school received a cheque for R195 655 from the Wiesenhof and Dulce Café Group.
The funds were raised through a golf day held at the Modderfontein Golf Club last month.
Fundraiser for the school Marion Leatherbarrow explained that Forest Town School looks after children with complex disabilities, 80 per cent of whom do not pay school fees. The specialised school and medical centre, which is over 70 years old, has been supported by a rugby player and patron Kobus Wiese and Wiesenhof since 2001.
Marketing manager at Wiesenhof and Dulce Group Brigid Jaucot said the funds raised would be used to purchase training materials, stipends for the post-school learnership programme and home and school support for learners.
Lucas said that the school requires R1.5 million next year to cover operational costs over and above the funding received from the Gauteng Department of Education.
“The funds raised through the golf day make a huge difference and we look forward to the annual event which raises approximately R200 000 each year. We are so thankful for the training that Wiesenhof does at our school, training baristas. Their work here is invaluable.”
Staff also began bidding farewell to Jenny Green, who has worked as a speech therapist at Forest Town for 33 years and will be retiring at the close of the year.
Green reflected on her time at the school, “We have the most remarkable children at this school. They show so much bravery and courage, despite their disabilities. They have become an incredible example to me about living life despite adverse situations.”
Green explained that her work involved early intervention therapy with children between the ages of four and a half and eight year’s old. “For us, what is not important is how people speak, but rather their ability to communicate. It is the right of every person to communicate in whatever way possible.”
She said that the school has become renowned for their drooling therapy, which gives children botox injections into their salivary glands, reducing drool and improving articulation.
Community members who wish to assist the school through funding are encouraged to contact Marion Leatherbarrow on marionleatherbarrow@gmail.com
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