Beverly Bizeki
MASVINGO-It was all smiles and joy at the Emmanuel Homestead Orphanage in Sikato area of Masvingo on November 21 as families of children with special needs gathered together with Chief Executive Officer for Dawn David Foundation, Dawn David Chitapa for an awareness campaign where the children also received Christmas hampers from the organization.
The donation was coupled with an awareness campaign running under the theme ‘everyone, everywhere, awareness of people born different’ and sought to teach communities as well as demystify stigmas and myths around disability.
The foundation’s director Sarita Chitapa, a mother to a son with special needs, urged parents to not give up on their children because of disability but to support them as they teach communities around them to accept that they are born differently.
“I understand what my son needs more than anyone and hence I have since chosen to become his voice because he cannot talk which is what I advise all parents to not conceal their children’s disabilities but to stand by them and help them to achieve greater things in life,” said Sarita.
Sarita a pastor, occupational therapist and author of Born Different took her time to narrate to the audience her life together with her son who is the inspiration behind Dawn David Foundation of how she has fought for Dawn now aged 28.
“I had to learn to accept my son’s condition after 12 years of trying to find answers and eventually travelled to UK to seek answers to my son’s condition after doctors confirmed that he had autism and learning about the condition.
“I had to come back after 15 years to give back to society about what I learnt about autism thereby starting the Dawn David Foundation to bring about awareness and support to children with special needs,” he added.
55 children with special needs received the Christmas hampers from the organization.
Alexander Chibwana the Executive Director for Window of Hope an organization in Masvingo which established the Emmanuel Homestead expressed his gratitude towards Dawn David Foundation team and called on other stakeholders to support the homestead.
“We are grateful to Dawn David Foundation and all other partners who give a hand towards this homestead and are calling upon other players to participate as we are about to receive our lease so we may be able to start operating,” explained Chibwana.
Dawn David Foundation partners with Emmanuel Homestead on the disability wing focusing on autism, Down syndrome and cerebral pulses.
Although the home is not fully operational as they are awaiting certification, they have close to 50 children whom they give assistance outside the homestead.
“We are looking after some children outside the homestead whom we pay fees for, provide school uniforms as well as other needs,” said Chibwana.
The homestead has a capacity to house 40 children together with 10 care givers and is expected to open its wings anytime starting from December.
