BY: PRUDENCE NHAVINGO
Sebo Sa Rena Centre is a care centre based in Mabopane, it is a centre that takes care of the mentally disabled people of any age for free and the centre is owned by a resident of Mabopane Duduzile Makunyane.
The centre was opened to due seeing many mentally disabled people roaming around in the community and being abused by others as result this centre was opened, and it has been working for two years and a few months and the centre offers free food, education, stationary, clothes and take good care of the mentally disabled from morning till afternoon as they also transport them to their home.
“The centre is for those who cannot afford special schools as there are schools for the people with mental disability, but many people can not afford them as they are too expensive and requires many things, so opening this centre was a very great idea for those who can’t afford as the came in many numbers than thought,” Said Duduzile Makunyane.
The care centre receives its assistance and funding from sponsors and some community members, the centre has managed to open employment opportunities as some of the community members who are unemployed are now employed at the centre to cook, clean the centre, do administrative work and educate the mentally disabled.
“I manage all the paperwork, take note of what is needed in the centre, raise funds for the centre, look for sponsors and I am also responsible for the budget and the money we receive from sponsors, “explained Dineo Masemola the admin lady at the centre.
Sebo Sa Rena has been taking safe care of its group as they all look happy at the centre, and they are having a good relationship with each other. The centre has displayed some of their hand work to show how their students progress or how well they are doing. The mentally disabled are also cooperating so well as they know all their routines, the morning praying routine and the other routines done at the centre.
“I’m happy to be part of Sebo Sa Rena care centre as they take good care of us and give us anything that we need, mostly importantly is they are teaching us so many things that we do not do at home,” said Nonkululeko Masango, one of Sebo Sa Rena student with intellectual disabilities.
The community is happy to have such centres as they help them a lot especially when it comes to female mentally disabled ones as some of them are getting raped almost everyday because they are not aware of what they are doing, and the males out there are taking disadvantage of their situation.
