VUYANI Safe Haven in Graaff-Reinet has opened a learning centre for children in their care who have learning disabilities.
The learning centre was launched in April this year and its main objective is to equip learners who have been identified to have missed the foundation phase of their formal schooling and as a result are not able to read and write.
The Youth and Child Care centre started as a shelter in 2000 with its objective of taking care of street kids and those sent by the courts from dysfunctional families in the area.
The centre currently has children aged between two and 18 in their care and is offering developmental, therapeutic and recreational programmes with the long term goal of facilitating a successful reunification with biological families or placement in a foster family or alternative care. According to public relations and marketing officer, Riana van der Ahee, “Vuyani’s main aim is to provide effective and holistic child care services to children in need of safety during an intervention period”.
The learning centre is following the current formal curriculum that is currently being used by the Department of Basic Education and has secured the services of two qualified remedial educators, Bettie Swartz and Hettie Pienaar, who are being monitored by retired headmaster Euben Hufkie.
The centre would like to extend its gratitude to all stakeholders who have made this project a success, especially the Rupert Education Trust for financial support and the Botanical Gardens for the building that they currently use.
The public is urged to support this initiative by donating much-needed items such as desks, chalkboards, photocopier machines and other stationery to enhance the success of this project.