Pebbles Project - Helping Children with Special Needs

KNITTING APPEAL 2012

We are once again running a knitting appeal for the children of Pebbles Project. This time we are asking for anything knitted; scarves,hats,gloves,blankets,sweaters,cardigans,toys. The response to the last appeal two years ago was phenomenal and made such a difference to the children.
We have no idea how we are going to get it all there yet but we are trusting and believing that we'll get it there somehow.

Our sponsor children attend Villiera crèche - Ida is now working full time in the crèche as the crèche manager and is charge of the general crèche management. Annaline works half day in the crèche and half day in the after school club.
There is also have a social worker who is working with the children and their families on Villiera Farm. She will be addressing whatever needs they might have and any extra support that might be required.

Bellevue crèche received a makeover during a "volunteer weekend" and is now a beautiful crèche with a sleeping room for the babies and space for all the children to play. Here there is some land available that Sophia would like to be able to utilise for an after school club. If anyone wants to donate some football kit please get in touch!
The other crèche that Chrissie visited was Luthando Day Centre in Kayamandi township. At the moment this is little more than a single room and Florence cares for many children here with little resources. Pebbles are working to secure larger premises that they can convert into a proper crèche with all the resources to encourage and educate the children.
After seeing just three of the crèches that Pebbles are working with, the difference that they are making to the lives of these children is very obvious. Sophia is passionate about the project and has so many ideas for the future.
Visit update - January 2009
Our annual visit proved to be as pleasurable as ever. The children love visitors and are always happy to see us. We managed to take out lots of clothes and toys that kind people had donated (thank you BA for the extra luggage allowance going out) Nkosikhona was a delight and as it was the first time that we had met him it was great fun playing with him and getting to know him. Misande has come on in leaps and bounds. From being a little girl who was frightened to speak to anyone and could only sit in a mat on a corner we were delighted to see her running around, integrating with her little friends and singing songs. Her huge cuddle before we left said it all - Ida and the team at Villiera are working so hard to make a difference to the lives of these children and it is a real pleasure to know that we are helping even if only in a small way.
Learn more about Pebbles and our children

Misande

The following gives details of the progress of our sponsor child Misande from a three year old who couldn't walk or talk to where she is today. Proof positive of the difference sponsorship can make to one child.

Misande attends the Villiera crèche. Misande was born physically and mentally disabled and as such her father left her soon after her birth. She is looked after well by her mother, who is known to be a very loving and friendly person.
Misande lives with her mother in a nearby location called Blokkombos. They live in the garden of another lady that works on the farm. It is a single roomed informal dwelling.
When she began at the crèche, Misande was unable to walk and talk and was very afraid of new people. We are delighted with the progress she has made and she has come on in leaps and bounds. She is currently learning to walk properly and is enjoying the freedom of movement so much that is has become quite a challenge to keep her in one spot for very long. She has become a happy and confident child who is no longer scared of new people and who tries very hard to participate in all crèche activities. Singing is one of her favourite activities and although she finds it difficult to pronounce some the words, she is an extremely enthusiastic participant.
Misande has a well developed sense of understanding. She listens to and obeys instructions and works really hard in all crèche activities. However, because of her slow start in life she is developmentally behind the other children at the crèche and still struggles to communicate clearly. As such, she is receiving special support and help from an occupational therapist, as well as Jo from the Pebbles Team. We are looking forward to seeing how she progresses over the next few months.

MISANDE - November 2008 Update

Misande is really such a joy in the Villiera crèche. This year has been a time of tremendous growth for her. When Misande first came to the Villiera crèche, she walked hunched over and on her toes, she couldn’t eat solid food or drink out of a cup, she was scared of most visitors and she struggled to sit on her own.

After a visit from a volunteer occupational therapist, at the beginning of the year, a visit to a speech and language therapist, and monthly visits to the physiotherapist, Misande can now walk flat footed and upright, she is starting to eat solid foods and can drink out of a cup. She can sit and is in the process of being potty trained. Misande is now wonderfully friendly and open to visitors and is a constant ball of energy and laughter. Having found her feet often unable to stop running around!

Starting this month, an occupational therapist student from the University of Stellenbosch will be working with her on some extra strengthening exercises and will be facilitating the inclusion of Misande into the school readiness programme that the 3-6 year olds participate in.

2008 has been a year of great progress for Misande and we are all so excited to see this wonderful girl blossom and grow each and every day.

Jo’s report on MISANDE - June 2010 - If I look at her today- I see a work in progress. She is talking in short sentences, she can answer simple questions, she is always, always happy and smiling and no one can help not falling in love with that beautiful face and shiny white teeth.

Misande showed signs of echolalia last year-this is almost disappearing and she can communicate fairly well. She joins the group at the tables to work-but she cannot concentrate for too long so one task is her maximum and we are happy with that. She attempts to do the task but needs one-on-one assistance and once she is “finished” she runs outside.

This is an amazing progression from 3 years ago. She now attends school every day and she absorbs so much of what is taught. She even sings with the group and gets excited about counting and repetitive clapping, singing etc.

The children accept her and her shortcomings and her two teachers are very kind and gentle and are an enormously important to her. She trusts them and they love her. A real team effort has been put in place to get Misande to where she is today.

She still has a long road ahead and will always need extra help-but with such a lovely positive personality she will go very far to overcoming her handicap

Update 2011

Misande has improved in many different areas of her development. She has opened up to many more of her class-mates and this has also encouraged the other children to show more interest in her and include her in their daily playing.

She has been attending Occupational Therapy for the year and has attended a 9 week kidi-sports programme. Misande would normally have been very hesitant towards trying new apparatus and touching things she was not normally used to touching , she is much more willing these days to take part and will often be found playing outside on the jungle – gym climbing up and down the climbing frame, she would normally not go near the climbing apparatus.

Misande has also improved on her language capabilities and will easily want to chat if in small groups. She has also gained a wonderful memory for words, heard by her teacher, objects will be given a name and she will remember the name of the object days later!

She also shows much pride in her accomplishments and absolutely loves it when you make a big fuss over her, she will become shy and hide her face in her hands or in your arms but she has a huge smile on her face and most definitely enjoys the feeling of “achievement and being noticed”

Misande has been assessed and is on the waiting list to attend a special need school suited for her needs. The special need schools do however have incredibly long waiting lists. Pebbles hopes that the school she is able to get placement into will suit her needs and further develop her educational needs.

She is a bright young girl and with enough support and encouragement she will be able to accomplish more than many may think. She is hard working and forms close bonds to all who meet her.