Article
Abandoned But Not Broken: The Plea for Taaibosch Disability Centre in Blouberg
In the remote village of Taaibosch in South Africa’s Blouberg Local Municipality, under the shade of a resilient tree, a small daily miracle occurs. With no walls, roof, electricity, or running water, the Taaibosch Disability Centre continues to offer hope and care to over 200 persons with disabilities despite receiving no formal funding, no government support, and no consistent donor assistance.
But now, even that flicker of hope is under threat.
Across South Africa, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are reeling from deep funding cuts. Organisations that serve as lifelines to the country’s most vulnerable—children, the elderly, the disabled—are closing their doors or operating on fumes. And for places like the Taaibosch Disability Centre, the consequences are devastating.
Taaibosch is not just a centre. It is the only dedicated service point for people living with people across several rural villages in Blouberg. Caregivers staff it without formal training but with unmatched commitment. It is a space of laughter, knitting circles, introductory literacy sessions, and quiet moments of dignity. It is a sanctuary for children and adults often left out of school systems, job markets, and community planning.
Yet, the centre has no building; its operations occur outdoors. There are no assistive devices for individuals with mobility challenges. There is no toilet, no proper kitchen, no furniture, no safe storage for documents, and no office equipment. There is also no funding for food, transport, or medication. Despite going unpaid, staff members arrive daily to care for those who rely on them.
Their needs are urgent and dire:
- Infrastructure: A basic structure to shelter activities from rain and sun
- Training: Formal caregiver and disability services training for staff
- Assistive Devices: Wheelchairs, walking aids, and other essential mobility tools
- Equipment: Office supplies, furniture, kitchen appliances, and toilets
- Electricity and Water: Basic service access for safety and hygiene
- Internet: For communication, reporting, and resource access
- Psychosocial Services: Especially for girls and women with disabilities who face layered vulnerabilities
- Monitoring and Evaluation Tools: To measure impact and improve accountability
- Governance Support: Policies, compliance training, and systems development
- Funding Partnerships: To help the Centre survive—and thrive
The Khulisa Social Solutions team, through the EmpowerAbility Programme, has witnessed firsthand the love, commitment, and sheer grit that characterise this centre. We have participated in dialogue circles where parents pleaded for inclusive education, where caregivers shared stories of burnout and resilience, and where persons with disabilities voiced their dreams of being seen, heard, and included.
The Taaibosch Disability Centre is one of the most neglected yet most needed organisations we’ve encountered. Its potential is enormous—but only if we act.
CALL TO ACTION
Join Khulisa Social Solutions in this crucial journey of transformation.
We are calling on government departments, corporate partners, philanthropic foundations, and individual donors not to let this centre collapse. Help us build it up. Help us bring dignity, opportunity, and support to those who have been invisible for too long.
A single ramp. A single wheelchair. A single salary. A single training. These may seem like small contributions, but in Blouberg, they are lifelines. Please tell us where you are and we will arrange for the collection.
To contribute, partner, or learn more, please contact:
Lesley Ann van Selm
Managing Director, Khulisa Social Solutions
LesleyAnn@Khulia.org.za
0826012299
alternatively click here to donate online
Let us not be remembered as the generation that left its most vulnerable behind. Let us be remembered as the ones who stood up, built up, and reached out—when it mattered most.
About us
Khulisa Social Solutions is a non-profit company that helps vulnerable children, youth, and communities unlock their potential and develop skills toward a sustainable future.
It operates nationally, employs approximately 200 staff through 19 offices, and works in approximately 150 communities in collaboration with 350 NGO partners, impacting the lives of close to 200,000 people per annum.
Khulisa partners with national and local government departments, schools, correctional facilities, community leaders, corporates, thought leaders, academic institutions, and private companies. Khulisa’s internationally acclaimed and locally rewarded best practice programmes deliver positive and measurable impact with the main focus on youth and community development.
