By Lucinda Kerschensteiner | Director
Overview
Shonaquip Social Enterprise (ShonaquipSE) continues its mission of enabling inclusion, learning, health, and participation for children with disabilities and their families. This year, we strengthened inclusive early childhood development (ECD), improved access to appropriate assistive technology (AT) and expanded parent-led community support networks across the Western Cape.
Our work spanned Cape Town Metro (Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Gugulethu, Philippi), the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Paarl), and the Overberg (Caledon, Grabouw), reaching ECD centres, homes, clinics, schools, and community hubs.
The Western Cape continues to experience persistent service access gaps, particularly for young children with disabilities who are often excluded from ECD centres or kept at home without early intervention. Through our ecosystemic model, we focused on early identification, caregiver capacity, inclusive practice, and access to appropriate assistive devices.
Across the province, spanning dense urban townships, semi-rural farming communities and the remote Overberg, gaps in early screening, inclusive ECD access, and wheelchair services continue to leave many children isolated or excluded from learning. Thanks to sustained donor support, children were able to access the equipment, care, and community networks they need for comfort, participation, and a sense of belonging.
Strengthening Inclusion in Early Learning
Our Ndinogona Inclusive ECD Program focused on equipping teachers and ECD practitioners with practical, classroom-ready strategies to support young children with diverse disabilities. Many practitioners shared that they had previously felt uncertain or even afraid to enrol a child with high support needs. Through workshops, mentoring, and repeat onsite visits, they built confidence to adapt daily routines, create calming spaces, and work closely with families.
In several centers the impact was visible within weeks. Children who had previously been kept at home were welcomed into classrooms. Teachers tried new approaches to behaviour and sensory needs, and parents reported that their children were participating more fully in learning and play.
“We used to feel unsure about how to help children with disabilities. Now we know what to do. We can include them!" said a center Principal from Mitchells Plain.
Assistive Device Services That Bring Care Closer to Home
Across the Western Cape, many children still struggle to access formal seating clinics or hospitals, especially those living in informal settlements or rural farming areas. Long waiting periods, transport difficulties, and a lack of local technical services mean that many children go months or years without appropriate seating.
To bridge this gap, our clinical and technical teams provided community-based support through home visits, pop-up clinics at ECD centres, and joint outreach with government facilities. Children received posture support, adjustments to equipment that no longer fitted them, and repairs to wheelchairs that had become unsafe or unusable.
Parents consistently shared that having services delivered directly in their communities relieved both emotional and physical strain. Children who had been spending most of the day lying down or being carried were able to sit upright again, join daily activities, and return to early learning programmes.
“Now that his chair has been fixed, he can go back to class. It makes all the difference.” said a caregiver from Overberg.
Growing Parent Leadership and Resilience
Through the Let’s Talk Disability dialogues and the Parent Champion Network, we created safe spaces for caregivers to share experiences, learn from one another, and access reliable information about disability, rights, and navigating local systems.
Many parents described longstanding isolation, stigma, and the overwhelming responsibility of caring for a child with disabilities without support. The dialogues helped parents connect with one another, build supportive relationships, and recognise their own strength and agency.
New parent-led groups emerged in Khayelitsha, Paarl, and Grabouw, where caregivers are now organising meetings, helping each other access services, and advocating for greater inclusion within their communities.
“I thought I was raising my child alone. Now I know I have a community.” said a Parent Champion in the township of Khayelitsha.
Strengthening Local Systems Through Collaboration
ShonaquipSE continued working closely with local government therapists, ECD supervisors, NGOs, and community organisations to reinforce referral pathways and create more coordinated systems of support. This included developing shared early identification tools, conducting joint visits with health workers, and strengthening links between ECD centres and local clinics.
These partnerships help ensure that children are not lost between systems and that caregivers receive consistent, follow-up support.
Challenges Families Continue to Face
Despite progress, families in the Western Cape still face significant barriers:
Many children are identified too late for early intervention, often after developmental delays have already affected learning and participation.
Transport remains a major challenge, particularly in remote farming communities, making clinic-based wheelchair appointments difficult to access.
Demand for child-sized posture support devices continues to exceed what local government budgets can supply.
These realities strengthen our commitment to community-based delivery and to ensuring that no child is left behind simply because of where they live.
Looking Ahead
In the coming year, ShonaquipSE will deepen its work in early childhood development, expand home-based assistive device services, strengthen parent-led groups across more communities, and pilot community repair micro-hubs to keep devices functioning between formal clinic visits.
Our goal remains clear: to build strong, inclusive local systems where children with disabilities can learn, participate, and experience dignity and belonging. These efforts directly align with ShonaquipSE’s mission to build resilient, community-based systems of support.
We thank our donors for believing in inclusive futures for children with disabilities. Your support helps us strengthen ECD centres, empower parents, deliver essential devices, and create communities where every child can learn, play, and thrive. These partnerships ensure that no child is left behind!
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