Nancy Rwexhana started Masincedane, a care centre for children with severe intellectual and physical disabilities, at her home in Nyanga, Cape Town, South Africa, to care for her daughter, Lihle, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. In 2007, Lihle dislocated her hip due to physical abuse at the care centre she was attending at the time. Lihle had to undergo surgery, the trauma of which resulted in Lihle’s grandmother (who helped Nancy taking care of Lihle) suffering a stroke and passing away.
“Just then the thought struck me ‘How many disabled kids have lost a loved one and are left with no one to care for them?’” (Nancy Rwexhana)
Nancy made some enquiries and discovered the enormous need in her immediate community for a care centre as many severely disabled children were left at home without any caretakers when parents went to work. Consequently, Nancy decided to open a 24-hour care centre. Some parents drop their children off in the mornings and collect them in the evenings. Other parents drop their children off and never return…
The Masincedane home currently has 5 permanent staff caring for 15 children. The running cost of Masincedane is R19,700 per month (£1,790 at ZAR/£ fx rate of 11).
By contributing £50 a month you can guarantee the continued care for 1 of these disabled children.