Oasis Association Day Care Centres held a sports day on Wednesday for children with profound and intellectual disabilities in Ravensmead.
Develop potential
The Delft Day Centre currently supports 20 children, while the Ravensmead Day Centre accommodates 70 children. The centres aim to develop each child’s potential, provide nurturing care and safeguard vulnerable children. Most of the children attending the day centres are aged between 2 and 18 years and come from the surrounding communities.
According to Deputy Director Beverley Damons, the event featured a buggy race, a wheelchair race, crawling and a slow walk, as well as supported walking, ball kicking, an egg-and-spoon race and an obstacle course. “It was very much like a typical school sports day for non-disabled people and was designed so that all children can participate and thrive. By hosting this event, we are actively working to reduce the stigma surrounding disability.”
According to Damons, the day was important to highlight the abilities of children with intellectual disabilities, including those with additional physical and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Difficult time
The sports day was held at a difficult time for the organisation. “In February Oasis’ specially adapted Toyota Quantum vehicle, used to transport children in wheelchairs and specialised buggies, was hijacked and stolen. The vehicle played a critical role in bringing children safely from their homes to the day centres and back each day. While the insurance will cover a portion of the value of the vehicle, Oasis still needs to raise R150 000 to replace the adapted vehicle. Currently, the organisation has only two vehicles available to transport approximately 90 children every weekday between their homes and the day centres. This creates a daily logistical challenge, as the two vehicles can carry only a limited number of children. As a result, the centres are currently unable to operate at full capacity.”
Anyone wishing to support Oasis and the children under their supervision can contribute any amount towards the existing amount would be greatly appreciated.
