Help educares give SA children the start they need

Over the past six months, Starting Chance has taken significant steps to expand the reach and impact of inclusive early childhood education for intellectually disabled children in Cape Town's underserved communities. Through infrastructure improvements, corporate partnerships, and specialist support, we are creating learning environments where every child can develop with dignity and opportunity.

Our partner schools have reached exciting milestones that are already improving daily learning experiences.

• Tangram Academy - A newly upgraded facility now includes multiple classrooms and a fully equipped sensory room designed for neuro-divergent learners.
• Lonwabo Special Care - New outdoor play infrastructure, supported by the Department of Social Development, is strengthening play-based development for young children.
• In addition, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) donated specialist sensory equipment to Tangram Academy, helping us better support children with diverse sensory and developmental needs.

Growing our specialist support

Inclusive education requires skilled people as much as quality spaces. Starting Chance is aiming to extend its established Fieldworker Team with dedicated Rehabilitation Fieldworkers who will work alongside occupational therapist Mrs. Jacqui Couper to mentor educators, strengthen classroom practice, and provide ongoing support to Tangram Academy and Lonwabo Special Care. This will also introduce a systemic change enabling access to early rehabilitation and diagnosis - a difficult and frustrating ongoing challenge for many parents and caregivers.

In the coming week we will be opening Sakha iThemba Inclusive Educare Centre. It will be a practice school demonstrating the implementation of the accredited  C.A.L.M. Framework while collaborating closely with neighbouring special needs schools. The first inclusive campus of its kind in Cape Town, the centre will bring principals and practitioners from across the metro for training. Equipped with an observation classroom it promises to be an important facility for the transfer of practical skills supporting inclusivity in the classroom. 

Looking ahead: supporting 80 families

Today, on 19 September 2026, Starting Chance is partnering with Tygerberg Hospital and Special Olympics South Africa to host a comprehensive medical screening day for 80 families raising intellectually disabled children aged 3–8 years.

The team is at the Starting Chance Inclusive Training Centre already this morning. The event will bring multiple medical disciplines together so that families can access essential health screenings and specialist referrals in one place.

We are also establishing partnerships with academic institutions to better understand the lived experiences of parents caring for children with intellectual disabilities, ensuring future interventions are informed by research evidence and that we listen and respond to community voices.

How your support can make a difference?

We are currently seeking support in three priority areas:

• Equip Sakha iThemba Educare Centre - Expand sensory equipment and inclusive learning resources for collaborative programmes.
• Provide Family Sensory Kits - Give parents practical therapeutic tools they can use at home with their children.
• Strengthen Educator Training - Supply specialist sensory resources for fieldworkers and teachers during inclusive education training.

Partner with us

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment that recognises their unique abilities. With the support of the GlobalGiving community, Starting Chance can continue expanding inclusive education, empowering educators, and ensuring that intellectually disabled children and their families receive the care, resources, and opportunities they deserve.

Links:

• Our website where you can learn more