The first thing you notice at the Ulwazi Project is the feeling of contentment and excitement.
The one you have when you’ve found your place and your people.
The second thing is the ferocity with which the organisers and helpers love and believe in what they do.
The Ulwazi Project is a programme that sees around 10 severely disabled people get together daily where they’re helped to do arts and crafts, play games and are fed.
“Here we socialise, we don’t vegetate or get bored,” says founder Evelyn Koopman.
Evelyn knows the challenges people with disabilities and their families face first-hand.
Her daughter, Loreen, had cerebral palsy and the lack of facilities for grown-ups for people with the condition inspired her to start something which would help disabled people achieve their full potential – and as she puts it “not just sit at home, watching TV”.
The project is hosted in the Bellville Library and is mostly attended by people with cerebral palsy.
This is no small task, as nine of the attendees have movement challenges, and all require wheelchairs, with some using the sort designed specifically for their condition.
Some have cognitive challenges and some struggle with expressing themselves.
But here they are all loved and Evelyn and her team have become their biggest supporters, often fighting with their care homes if they feel the attendee isn’t getting what they need.
At Ulwazi each attendee is accompanied by a helper who comes in on the day as all need individual attention feeding themselves and going to the bathroom.
The project started 18 years ago and many have been attending since the start. Some attendees are there every day and some only certain days, depending on the transport available to them. Even this is a challenge, as the wheelchairs take a lot of space and when there isn’t specialised transport, the wheelchairs and attendees need to be transported in two cars.
There are many different personalities from different corners of Cape Town – the furthest being Manenberg.
The project runs from 09:00 until 13:30 and includes puzzles, games, activities and a meal. “They love playing Uno,” says Evelyn. The group also goes on regular outings to places like Tyger Valley Shopping Centre or a park, a highlight many expressed upon TygerBurger’s visit.
Kathy Moore, a happy attendee known as the group’s “sunshine”, says she enjoys the friends and painting.
It was Kathy who convinced carer Theresa Conradie to switch careers and stay on with their group. “I came to the library one day,” she remembers, “and I saw this group of happy people and I thought I wanted to do something valuable with my life.”
She quit her job at a butcher and has been with Ulwazi ever since.
Lizette van Zijl, who lives in Ravenzicht Old Age Home in Kraaifontein, says she likes socialising and outings the most.
Ulwazi survives on a stipend from government, but like all charities the need is much greater than the available funds.
Marita Prinsloo, a psychologist who works with Ulwazi, says there are exceptional people in the group.
“None of them have normal lives,” she says. Many are at the age of losing their parents and family members and Ulwazi has become their only lifeline. “None of them can speak for themselves. That’s why we as a community must stand up for them.”
Contact Evelyn on 082 824 8281 for more information.
