ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

Jicama 89 is a registered company incorporating Section 21, registered Section 18A and a registered Non-Profit Organization whose primary purpose is to support deserving organizations in their efforts to meeting the needs of those less fortunate and able.

 The Sibonile School Harvey Cohen Centre Isizwe Setjhaba SID School

Jicama 89 started assisting the Sibonile School for Visually Impaired and Disabled children in 2007 and have been actively involved in supporting the children in the care of the Sibonile School which is based in Klipriver to date. Jicama 89 has recently adopted 2 additional schools, 2nd school – The Harvey Cohen Centre, which is based in Eldorado Park and the 3rd school - Isizwe Setjhaba SID School based in Midvaal. This profile seeks to make individuals and the public aware of the task of educating children with Visual Impairment or Mentally and Physically Impaired and Severe Intellectual Disabilities. To enrich the potentials of these less fortunate children we need to:

• Provide a conducive learning environment.

• Give them human treatment as stipulated in the constitution.

• Present them with equal opportunities, as we would do to able bodied children.

• Take cognizance of their limitations or barriers in executing certain tasks.

The Sibonile School is a boarding school and has 187 children, 71 female and 116 male who are Visually Impaired and Disabled. Harvey Cohen Centre is a sub-boarding school and has 103 children and adolescence, 42 females and 61 males who are Mentally and Physically Disabled. Isizwe Setjhaba SID School is a mainstream secondary school and has 138 children, 40 females and 98 males who are Severely Intellectually Disabled children. All 3 school’s provides schooling, accommodation, food and clothing for these children who are from all around South Africa. It is apparent therefore that some of the pupils are not academic. A simple question then is what does the future of either a Visually Impaired, Mentally / Physically Disabled and Severely Intellectually Disabled children hold if their education does not provide anything in that regard? Our ultimate goal is to fully prepare these person’s for a meaningful integration / inclusion in the society. The school’s thought of establishing training centre’s for these children, where they would be empowered in:

- Self-awareness training - Health education and healing

- Small business courses - Self-employment or making the disability employable

- Adult basic education - Skills training in production of goods

With regards to the Sibonile School, Jicama 89’s main focus for the past 3 years to date has been to continue with our project of replacing the outdated Braille Typewriter system with the more advanced technology driven Braille Note Taking system which is computer based. This technology based computerized system will replace the outdated Braille typewriters. It greatly improves the interaction between the Teacher and the Learner. Jicama 89 firmly believes that every child deserves the chance of the best possible education. As it is a specialized product it is very costly. There are a number of new additional Projects that are in dire need at all 3 schools. There is individual Need’s, Projects and Wish lists for all 3 school’s that we have available.

The school’s all need funding to improve the learner’s accommodation facilities as well as equipment for their school. There is always a need for clothing, blankets, foodstuff, specialized books and stationery.

Any donation of cash, product or service, is greatly appreciated and very welcome to make the dream of the Sibonile School, Harvey Cohen Centre and Isizwe Setjhaba SID School come true.

Should you contribute to our worthy cause, an official Sect 18A receipt will be issued. Alternatively, we will willingly collect any cash or products at your convenience.