To celebrate its 50th birthday, Eros School in Bridgetown will be publishing a book highlighting its history of caring for children with special needs.
When the school was established in September 1969, it was one of only a few schools in South Africa which accommodated children with cerebral palsy from disadvantaged communities.
But the seed had been planted two years before when a group of women who worked together embarked on a social outreach programme for children with physical disabilities from poor communities.
Their efforts included raising funds to take the children on excursions and organising social events for parents and children.
They also realised that there was still much stigma around disability so to eradicate that they included educational programmes in their tasks where they would present documentaries on cerebral palsy and have discussions with the audience.
The next step was to ensure that these children were enrolled at a school where they would receive appropriate education as well as the necessary therapy.
On September 2 1969, the school was opened, temporarily accommodated on the grounds of the Bonnytoun Place of Safety in Rosmead Avenue in Wynberg with a staff count of eight and an enrolment of 14 children.
Ten years later they began with construction and built a brand-new school building – in which they are still based – in Tarentaal Road in Bridgetown. The school accommodates pupils from pre-school to matric, has a hostel which houses 120 pupils from all over South Africa and offers therapy combined with education.
To highlight their birthday, the school has published a 150-page book called 50 Years of Giving Hope which is filled with memories and achievements. Many of the staff and pupils present at the opening of the school 50 years ago contributed their stories about the institution and how it had made a difference to their lives.
Former physiotherapist at the school, Gadija Hendrickse, said the first chapter of the eight-chapter book documents how the school had been started by a group of volunteers and parents who did not have disabled children but who wanted to establish a school to accommodate these pupils.
It speaks about 20 of these pupils who went on to pursue careers and what their lives are like now.
Each subsequent chapter focuses on a decade at the school, detailing sporting activities and how the school grew over the years.
The book was due to be launched yesterday at a thanks giving ceremony at the school. They need to raise R90 000 to print 250 copies of it. For more information, or if you can help, call Gadija on 073 811 4415.