Boikanyo – The Dion Herson Foundation is on a mission to empower physically challenged children by providing them with essential mobility aids: specialised wheelchairs, also known as “buggies”.

Gauteng, South Africa (21 October 2024) – Wheelchairs make a world of difference in the lives of physically challenged children.

Sadly, many of those in rural, underserved areas have to go without one for most of their childhood until they are connected with life-changing angels like those of the Boikanyo – The Dion Herson Foundation.

Doing their level best to respond to the high demand for specialised wheelchairs (buggies), the non-governmental organisation has undergone the big task of refurbishing and transforming old, worn-out chairs donated by public hospitals to provide disabled children with essential mobility aids.

“A buggy can provide them with the support they need to sit upright and pain-free. This way they can engage with the world around them.

“Buggies offer more than mobility. They offer dignity, and a chance to be a part of their family and community,” Boikanyo shared.

The dedicated team recently received a generous donation of these chairs from The Paige Project, which they will distribute at their next outreach after giving them a revamp, allowing children the freedom and joy to participate in family activities, attend school, and connect with their peers.

The organisation also extended its thanks to one of its supporters, Ruth Stubbs, who plays a key role in allowing Boikanyo to teach therapists in deep rural areas how to revamp and recycle condemned buggies from state hospitals.

“Our group does it for those terribly contorted and disabled cerebral palsy children who live in rural SA, while she revamps buggies for similarly incapacitated children in Gauteng.”

Their commitment to making a difference is evident in every community outreach and every smile they bring to a child’s face.

The next outreach will be held near Tzaneen, Limpopo, where about 100 children are on the waiting list for buggies.

To help Boikanyo – The Dion Herson Foundation continue its invaluable work in changing the lives of countless children, email letstalk@boikanyo.org.za or visit boikanyo.org.za

Sources: Boikanyo – The Dion Herson Foundation

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The Yingisani Special School for the deaf in Tzaneen received a new fire alert system that will help children see when there is an emergency that requires evacuation.

Tzaneen, South Africa (08 September 2022) – Every school child is taught fire safety and experiences fire drills in case of an emergency, but for deaf children, fire safety and awareness is a very different lesson. Children at the Yingisani Special School in Tzaneen have been aided by the installation of a special system that helps alert them should there be a fire or any other emergency.

Fire systems are generally designed for hearing; smoke alarms and other alert systems all rely on loud, consistent sounds which go unheard by the deaf community. This poses a significant risk which is why Santam stepped forward to offer an alternative.

The Yingisani Special School has a boarding school environment that allows the children to have a fully immersive lifestyle while learning to sign. Unfortunately, being so close to the bush, the school’s location is prone to fires, floods, windstorms and other hazards. Managing these risks for deaf learners requires some careful intervention. Santam supported the school by installing smoke alarms attached to sirens, control panels and strobe lighting systems. The lights give the children the chance to see there is an issue and to evacuate the building quickly.

Matome Mohlagafazi is the chairperson of the school governing body and knows first-hand the struggles faced by the deaf community in rural areas. His daughter was born deaf, and he recounts the challenges he experienced with her frustration and anger as they battled to understand each other.

Now that she is enrolled and staying at the school, she feels understood, and he is learning sign language along with her so they can better communicate with each other.

Mr Mohlagafazi feels great comfort knowing that his daughter is not only receiving an education that will help her but that she is staying at a safety-conscious school that has the tools to keep the children alerted to any dangers.

Sources: SA INC

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