Songa Mbele na Masomo Children Centre serves children from the Mukuru Slum living with disabilities as well as vulnerable children who have never attended school or have been excluded from school due to poverty.
The Centre is the only one of its kind in Mukuru and comprises two sections: 1) Special Unit for the children with disabilities and 2) Coaching Unit for children who have never been to school or who dropped out of school for one reason or another. The Centre’s goal is to promote positive mindsets and attitudes towards children living with disabilities, and create a second chance for those children who dropped out of school or delayed joining school. The childrens’ activities include daily care, feeding, therapy and learning at the different levels of capability.
Special Unit
Children in this unit have special conditions such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Hyperactive Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Convulsion Disorder, Epilepsy, Delayed Speech and Learning Difficulties. They are supported with basic education, day-care services, hygiene, therapy, medication and education. Our fulfillment is when the children improve so well in their social and learning skills and in their activities of Daily Living (ADLs) that they can make decisions unaided. When the children reach a certain ability or age they are then referred to another specialized educational institution or vocational training centre.
Coaching Unit
Children who have delayed joining school or who dropped out of school are taken through education programs and are gradually integrated into mainstream institutions. MAny of the children are ‘exited’ to one of the four MPC primary schools. Through these support services we are able to reduce the stigma experienced by the parents/guardians and promote children’s rights to education, affection, care and good health.