Bates GM uplift children with special needs

L to R: Colin Cowie, chairman of GM ChildLife Foundation; Angie Tutton, Wonderland Principal; Debra Allchin from Bates GM Port Shepstone and Ian Nicholls, President and MD of GM Sub-Saharan Africa Operations. Image: www.quickpic.co.za

The R200 000 project was the initiative of Bates GM Port Shepstone and was funded by the GM ChildLife Foundation, an initiative of General Motors South Africa (GMSA), its dealer network and GMSA Financial Services.

The manufacturing giant and its more than 130 dealers across South Africa contribute to the Foundation for every vehicle sold, resulting in over R12-million in support to more than 222 000 children and 57 projects countrywide since 2010.

Wonderland is a special needs school that has been running since 2001 under the guidance and management of Angie Tutton.

The majority of the children who attend the school come from previously disadvantaged backgrounds where education for them is least considered. Among others, their disabilities include Downs Syndrome, Autism, Schizophrenia, Cerebral Palsy and visual impairment.

Up until today Tutton ran the school from an old wooden Wendy House that was crumbling and falling apart. The structure is located on a piece of land leased to her by Creston College in Oslo Beach.

"There is a dire need for special needs education on the South Coast. Due to the growing number of children who require special needs education it became increasingly difficult to accommodate everyone.

"Many parents cannot afford to send their children to schools in Durban. Those who are by the means, have to send their children to boarding school at the tender age of five years old," said Tutton.

Noel Allchin, Dealer Principal of Bates Port Shepstone, said it was their dream to provide the children with a new classroom where they could be comfortable to grow and learn.

"We wanted to give the children a happy environment where they can learn to cope with the pressures of life that even us, as normal able people battle with.
"The new classroom is an absolute blessing for Tutton and the children. We are also very grateful to Creston College for making the project possible and for the genuine kindness they display towards Wonderland."

Tutton said the school aims to provide education to the youth to enable them to function in mainstream society.

With the help of four staff members they currently teach 16 children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old.

Prior to attending school at Wonderland, some of the children were left in wheelchairs locked up in their homes with no stimulation and nurturing she said.