Africa Roots - Inkanyiso Daycare Centre

Welcome to the Inkanyiso Daycare Centre for children with special needs. All African Roots is a group of people with a common passion; making a difference to their local communities in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

It is hard to describe in words how unique and wonderful the centre is, its filled with joy and laughter.

It is a sanctuary for children with special needs in a very under-privileged part of South Africa. It is a place where children with special needs are welcomed and cared for in a culture and environment that makes it very tough to survive, even if you are a normal kid. It gives the children’s parents the opportunity to go out work knowing that their child is in a safe and stimulating environment. All African Roots is a group of people with a common passion; making a difference to their local communities in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

In a country where even mainstream schools in townships are under-resourced, this well-managed centre for children with special needs goes against the grain. This is a gem. It is so important to the community, critical to the children that go there and is an initiative that we just cannot let fall through the cracks. This isn’t a big charity initiative. Its not Unicef. Its not even supported by the government. Its just a little centre run by a mother called Thandi and her army of dedicated volunteers. And, they need your support to keep going.

If you go to the township of Mpophomeni in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, you will find an amazing little place that means a lot to many little people who call that township home.

It was started by Thandi Ntombela in 1999 and she named it Inkanyiso after her disabled son.

It started as a training centre to raise awareness about disabilities and teach parents of disabled children how to make toys for their children and how to look after them better. It has now evolved into a full fledged Daycare centre that looks after 25 children on a daily basis (and this number is growing). They get dropped off in the morning, bathed, fed, read to, sung to, and cared for. They go home at the end of the night happy and contented.

Due to the lack of understanding the children were often housebound and locked away as parents were ashamed to have their children seen. This led Thandi to start the day care centre to provide for these neglected children and assist parents in caring for them.