Latest news with #TshepoFoundation
News24
5 days ago
- General
- News24
Limpopo woman Dineo Twala turns parents' home into disabled children's centre
A Limpopo woman has transformed her parents' house into a centre for children born with disabilities. Deep compassion and love for children motivated her to make a difference in their lives. Thirty-year-old Dineo Thwala, from the rural village of Bothashoek, provides comfort to children who are permanently disabled and paralysed. Her journey began with the challenge of caring for her sister's child, who was born with cerebral palsy and couldn't walk, talk, or sit. This experience led her to establish the Tshepo Foundation, 'Tshepo' being a Sepedi name meaning 'Hope.' In 2019, Dineo's love for children blossomed into a fully-fledged centre. She started with a support group for parents of children born with disabilities. 'I encourage and teach other parents to train and exercise their children. I help them learn how to care for their children living with disabilities, using an app that outlines step-by-step methods to improve a disabled child's living conditions,' she explains. Eight-year-old Dimakatso Nkadimeng is one of the children who received a special mobility device called a Madiba Buggy during the 67 minutes of Mandela Day celebration. The device helps restore mobility and dignity for children who can't sit properly, providing essential body and head support. Unemployed young mothers Dikeledi Nkadimeng, 21, and Virginia Matlakala, 25, from Ga-Manoke village near Burgersfort, survive on their children's disability social grants. They stay at home and have struggled to find employment. Matlakala told Drum magazine that seeing her child play with other children and finally attempt to speak has brought her joy after countless years of trying to get a wheelchair for her child. 'My child used to watch with envy as other children played together,' Matlakala said. Dineo shared a success story: 'When Matlakala's daughter, Comfort, was first brought to the Tshepo Foundation, she was unable to do anything. Now she can speak, move around, and eat solid food without being selective about what she eats.' Caring for people living with disabilities has always been challenging, but for unemployed Thwala, it has become a passion that has developed into a centre for those born with disabilities. The centre operates from a house in her parents' backyard and cares for children with cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, osteogenesis imperfecta, and other disabilities. 'We face challenges such as lack of cleaning materials, transport, toiletries, and wheelchairs,' Dineo explains. She continues to approach potential donors and funders, and her efforts are beginning to bear fruit. She also plans to secure land where she can build a proper centre for children living with disabilities. Read more | Limpopo man appeals for help to remove life-altering keloid growth Many children depend on her centre for social contact with other kids living with similar conditions. Thwala's advice to parents with disabled children is important: 'They often find themselves isolated at home because they literally have no one to communicate with. Here, they have a sense of belonging because we show them love and care.' Most of these children come from disadvantaged families, and the centre provides them with two meals a day. Thwala pleads for support from multidisciplinary professionals, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to volunteer their therapeutic expertise. This training would help improve the lives of those living with disabilities.
IOL News
18-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Independent Media spends 67 minutes for Mandela Day with the homeless at U-Turn's Tshepo Community Development Initiative
Independent Media joins the Tshepo Foundation to celebrate Mandela Day. Image: Nobantu Cala Independent Media visited the Northcliff homeless community at the Tshepo Foundation Centre on Friday to commemorate Nelson Mandela Day. Indy was warmly welcomed by the U-turn Homeless Ministries and the Tshepo Foundation. The day is celebrated annually on July 18 to honour the life and the legacy of former president Nelson Mandela. Independent Media dedicated 67 minutes to serving breakfast to the Northcliff homeless community. One of the homeless individuals, Derby McLaoen, readily shared her story with IOL about her journey at the Tshepo Foundation Centre. McLaoen explained that she became homeless after losing her house in Johannesburg last year. The 73-year-old woman revealed that she lived on the streets for a year, relying on strangers for food and money to survive. 'I used to sleep under the bridge without food, and I had no family to turn to because they all live abroad,' McLaoen said. Another homeless individual, Sphiwe Radebe, stated that substance abuse is one of the reasons that led him to the streets. 'I got subjected to be on the streets and have found myself comfortable in a substance called methcathinone and I used to sell around the city to try to make a living.' The community stated that the Tshepo Foundation Centre has been helpful and has provided them with food, shelter and toiletries. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Tshepo Foundation focuses on providing support to homeless people. The organisation provides innovative skills-based programme designed by a multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, social workers, homeless support workers, counsellors, trainers and life coaches to help improve the lives of homeless people. The General Manager at Tshepo Foundation, Ailet Geldenhuys, explained that they assist with food, clothing, showers and blankets. She explained that the idea is to be a stepping stone for someone to find their way off the street. 'We have adapted the three phases from U-turn Homeless Ministries that help homeless people improve their lives. We have phase one where the homeless join our programmes to learn basic skills, and phase two helps them get sober, and on the third stage, they are taught skills to help them get job opportunities,' said Geldenhuys. The organisation states that it celebrates Mandela Day to assist those in need and make a difference in the community. Geldenhuys emphasises that Nelson Mandela left a legacy and initiated a concept that encourages people to unite and support their communities. IOL News
