Partnership makes play accessible to children with disabilities

The freedom of play is something many take for granted. For the children at the Lonwabo Special Care Centre for children with disabilities, having a safe and accessible place to play is an important opportunity for inclusion and belonging. 

The centre has officially opened its inclusive, specialised playpark, made possible by a donation from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and with the support of Western Cape Department of Social Development. 

The project was further supported by the Cape Care Fund, an initiative by WCDSD and The Health Foundation of South Africa, PPC, and ShonaQuip. 

The playpark will serve the 33 children with disabilities at the centre in Mfuleni.

The sandy, uneven walkways have been resurfaced, making it possible for children using wheelchairs and walking aids to move around the park. For the first time, the children with mobility impairments do not have to stand and watch from the sidelines. Instead, they will get to experience the joy of swinging, and spinning on a merry-go-round. 

A sensory-regulation space for children with autism and sensory needs has also been installed. The space will create opportunities for children with hearing, visual and intellectual disabilities to engage through tactile, sensory and social activities.

Importantly, the caregivers and therapists now have a safe environment to facilitate structured outdoor activities and therapy. 

“All children deserve to feel the absolute joy of play. This is an important tool for their learning and development. This is a wonderful example of leveraging partnerships to help break down barriers to inclusion for children with disabilities,” said Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Wendy Kaizer-Philander.

TİKA said that they were proud to support this project through partnership. “At TİKA, we believe development should foster inclusion. This inclusive playground gives children a safe space to play, learn and connect. It is a gift from the hearts of the Turkish people to the people of South Africa,” said Ms Şule Bayar, TİKA Pretoria Programme Coordinator.

For the children at Lonwabo, this playpark could be life-changing. “This playpark is more than just a place to play — it represents inclusion, dignity, belonging and the opportunity for every child to experience the joy of being a child. We hope this playpark will be a catalyst for change and inspire the creation of more inclusive spaces across the Western Cape, because every child, regardless of ability, deserves a place where they can play, dream and thrive,” said Lonwabo’s centre manager, Phumza Shayi.

The Cape Care Fund is an initiative created by WCDSD and The Health Foundation of South Africa, to help strengthen communities across the province by connecting donors to vetted, high impact social sector projects.