KHANYISA derives from the Nguni word, Ukukhanya, which means to bring to light or to illuminate. This is exactly what the day care centre has been doing since its establishment in 1993.
The centre was formed by three women who conducted community research on the plight of disabled children in the township, focusing on their adaptability and accommodation in normal schools.
After their research findings, Bukelwa Booysen, Nolutha Lisa and Louisa Ntswayi resolved to start the centre, as a form of intervention, to ensure that these children were placed in a form of a normal educational set-up, as most were left at home while other kids their age attended school. This was largely due to ignorance and perceptions held by some parents that there was no future for these children.
With the help of local ministers’ wives, the project was implemented and has grown in leaps and bounds ever since.
The centre was first run from a one-roomed building at the St Philips Church building, accommodating eight children.
In 1994, they resolved to include even able-bodied children to encourage cohesion and purport normality among the children, armed with the White Paper 6 policy promulgation that stipulated that all disabled children had a right to be placed in an educational facility, regardless of the nature or severity of their disability.
The women drew their strength from this policy guideline and have, to date, managed to get the necessary funding, a school bus and are operating a fully fledged day care centre which doubles as a special care and protective workplace centre in the heart of the township.
They have also been recipients of two prestigious Presidential Awards and one Shoprite/Checkers Community Builder Award in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
According to the principal, Bukelwa Booysen, the centre has grown over the years despite challenges encountered since its inception 25 years ago.
“We have managed to make interventions that have a great impact on the children’s lives in our community,” said Booysen.
The centre has a current staff complement of 12 members, which includes an office administrator, four teachers, kitchen staff, a bus driver, maintenance officer and receives weekly visits from a professional dietician and psychologist, who render services to the kids.
The centre is also grateful to Taxidermy SA, who recently donated 20 bags of leather to the workplace which will see children being trained on making leather belts, bags and wallets to ensure that they become self-sufficient after their time at Khanyisa.
According to Thobani Claase (28), who was once a learner at Khanyisa, the programmes have helped him greatly.
“I can now work for myself and, in the meantime, provide food for my family. I am currently working at the Community Work Programme (CWP) because of the foundation laid by Khanyisa,” said Claase.
The centre is grateful to the community of Umasizakhe for the support it has shown so far and urged parents of children living with disabilities to bring their children to such institutions as they are there for them.