With the right support, no condition can stop these learners from reaching for their dreams

Children from the Athlone School for the Blind are not letting their disabilities stand in their way of obtaining a brighter future.

With the help of a dedicated team of teachers and staff, these children benefit from education, skills training, and support that would enable them to obtain the skills that they would need to change their lives.

“Despite the severity of their disabilities our learners epitomize the wonderful example of hope, faith, and determination,” the school said.

The Bellville-based school houses over 400 children some are partially blind, some with multiple disabilities while a majority are completely blind, some come from less fortunate communities in the Western Cape.

According to the school, out of the more than 400 children, 125 of them live in the school hostels.

“Most of our learners are from very poor families who are unable to make any contribution to their education or upkeep,” the school said.

The school offers specialised programmes and it caters to Early Childhood Development, primary and high school education.

There is a department in the school that is dedicated to teaching learners life skills on a daily basis.

The school has been in existence for 87 years and has been heavily relying on donations to keep its doors open.

According to an article on Smile FM, it is reported that the school offers an academic programme that is followed in other mainstream schools, meaning the school complies with the curricular standards assessment processes, procedures, and promotion requirements.

“We also offer a vocational training programme for learners who have difficulty coping with the normal scholastic programme,” it said.

The school said when the vocational training ends, learners are assisted with securing suitable employment in the open market, it added and said should they not be able to find the learners working in the workplace, efforts are made to have them placed in workshops.

The vocational training includes switchboard training upholstery, cane work, and basketry, metalwork, handwork, woodwork, arts and crafts, marimba production, home economics, maintenance of properties and grounds.

Editor’s note:

The school is dedicated to ensuring that its learners are given the best education, training, and support so they can succeed in life.

Description:

Through life skills and vocational training learners from the Athlone School for the Blind are able to get an education that enables them to have proper development and growth and be able to contribute to society.

Editor: Thato Mahlangu

Project manager: Anirlé de Meyer