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1. To improve and develop our mentally and physically challenged children to their full potential in the community through intervention programmes. A full stimulation programme will be implemented to develop their cognitive, motor and communication skills.
2. To give support to parents through counseling services and to improve their home programmes and other centre activities.
3. To train staff through in-service training programmes and to improve their renumeration.
4. To build a good working relationship between management, staff, parents and children.
5. To raise the necassary funds to sustain the ongoing programmes.
6. To work on awareness programmes in the community.
Contact numbers: Office telephone & facsimile – 012 806 8552
Melvin Hoods (CEO) – 082 574 1627
Aurelia Hoods (Principal) – 061 482 5218
E mail Address: [email protected]
Physical Address: 408 Oranje Avenue, Eersterust, Pretoria, 0022
Postal Address: P. O. Box 41034, Eersterust, Pretoria, 0022
NPO Registration number: 003-838
PBO Tax Registration number: 18/11/13/4810
VAT Registration number: 4340151192
Section 21 Company Registration number: 1988/002471/08
Income Tax Reference number: 9250/517/64/7P
UIF Reference number: 0223364/8
We aim to serve and uplift the historically disadvantaged areas of Eersterust, East Lynne, Mamelodi and Nellmapius by providing basic job skills and social services to children, youth, abused, disabled and uneducated. Job training and creation will ultimately provide education, self-sustainability and community upliftment enabling the clients of the centre as well as local unemployed people from the community to reach their full potential.
BACKGROUND
South Africa is a nation that has publically declared its commitment to upholding the rights of the mentally disabled – both in enacting one of the most progressive pieces of mental health legislation in the world (www.national lawreview.com/article/analysis-south-africa-s-mental-health-legislation) and through ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In making these commitments, the government of our country has affirmed its belief that all members of our society have a fundamental right to care. As is the case with many countries people with mental disabilities face multiple forms of inequity and discrimination in their daily lives (Burns J.K. Mental health and inequity) in the form of reduced work and social opportunities, disenfranchisement and restriction of civil liberties and in the form of social stigma.
The Mental Health Care Act 2002 (MHCA) was implemented in 2004 and was generally hailed as one of the most progressive pieces of mental health legislation in the world. The CPRD framework for a rights based approach to disability highlights a number of guiding principles and related rights which includes “The right to movement, mobility, independent living and full inclusion within the community including full access to and participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport” as well as the right to “equal education, work, and employment including the full accommodation of individual requirements; The right to health habilitation and rehabilitation”.
OUR CENTRE
Over Forty years ago the Centre was established with a vision “Enabling the disabled to grow to their full potential”. The vision has been realised through the achievements and success it has gained through this time. Today’s mission, in line with CPRD is “To improve the quality of life for the physically & mentally disabled person in order that they may reach their full potential in the community”.
Eersterust Care & Training Centre (ECTC) functions as a learning and therapy centre for children who suffer mental, intellectual and cognitive disabilities. The specialised intervention programs offered makes use of neuro-developmental rehabilitation techniques (training the brain to re-route neural pathways) via various therapies, social and psychological services, skills training, and specialised assistance programs.
To improve the quality of life of mentally and physically disabled children specialised therapy programs are implemented to improve the child’s self-image helping to normalise balance and equilibrium reactions as well as improve feeding, speech and alternative
communication skills. Home-based programs are developed with parents to improve the child’s social functioning in their environment.