Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association board members, from left, are John Zuyl, Mandy Newman, Osman Shaboodien, Fowzia Achmat, Noor Osman, Keith Dreyer and Aniel Jeaven.
More than half of the R11 million needed to run the Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association has to be found from fund-raising, says its treasurer
Speaking at the association’s annual general meeting at the Village Centre on Thursday September 21, Osman Shaboodien said it had been a challenging year but the association had managed to stay afloat.
“Last year, we didn’t receive any money from the national lottery. Government grants were also reduced and many families could not afford to pay. This led to an increase in bad debts for us, but we managed to end the financial year with a R78 000 operating profit.”
He said 45% of the association’s funding came from the government, but it had to raise the rest, and that was challenging.
The association’s chairman, Noor Osman, said the association had received complimentary reviews on its financial audits and good-governance administration for 2022/23.
“Drawing strength from the excellent work of our centre management structures, we continue to succeed in our goals to transform the association to greater heights. It is empowering to know that our staff have the capabilities to deal with challenges that they face daily.”
He thanked his fellow board members, staff, families and persons with disabilities for their support.
“Words of thanks and appreciation can never express our thanks and gratitude to you for your generous contributions to the success of the Association. If only you can see the mountains of joy, smiles and happiness you bring to the faces of persons with cerebral palsy.”
Board member and interim co-ordinator Fowzia Achmat said they needed more volunteers to help with transformation within the association.
“The association does not belong to the board, it belongs to everyone and we need more people to come forward and help. There is a lot of work to be done.”
Fatima Shaboodien, principal of De Heide Special Care Centre, reflected on how the association had taken root in 1952 with the purpose of opening the Vista Nova school to support children with cerebral palsy.
“The school grew and so did the organisation as it developed a clinic in Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, as the need was identified for therapeutic intervention for children with cerebral palsy. Between 1972 and 1976, a social work service was started, and by 1984, after an assessment on the needs by the Cerebral Palsy Clinic, De Heide Special Care Centre was established.”
In 1990, Rosedon House was completed and the Palms Work Centre was started. Today, the association continues to operate the Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Red Cross, De Heide Special Care Centre, Rosedon House, The Village Work Centre (an amalgamation of Rosedon House and the Palms Work Centre) and the social services programmes, providing for both adults and children who have cerebral palsy.