Little Eden : caring for persons with intellectual disability

Respect ... Sanctity of Life ... and Love & Care. Our core values are encapsulated in a series of symbols that guide the way the staff and volunteers at LITTLE EDEN respond to children and adults with intellectual disability; to each other as staff; to the environment; and to the larger community.

We believe in the sanctity of life – these special people are precious in the eyes of God and they have a right to be here and to be helped to reach their full potential despite their limitations.

We offer them love and care, provide for their needs, and protect them from harm.

Value symbols

Meet the children

Thanks to support from friends like you, we have recently been able to open our hearts and our home to no fewer than seven new children. Check back for more information on their progress soon.

In the meantime, some of the children who've been with us for a while are doing very well - as you can see below.

If you would like to meet any of the children at LITTLE EDEN, you are most welcome to visit, just give us a call on 011 609 7246 to arrange a convenient time.

Lethabo

Brightest smile

Seventeen year old Lethabo's spine is severely deformed and her lower limbs are dysfunctional. Yet she always welcomes staff and visitors with her infectious smile!

During the day, she sits in a custom-made wheelchair, when she is not lying on the mat listening to nursery rhymes with her friends, or undergoing physiotherapy. Even though she will never walk, crawl or even sit, Lethabo has physiotherapy at least once a week to maintain her muscles and encourage what movement she has.

Lethabo is fortunate to have a loving mother, who sometimes takes her home for a weekend. She always returns with her fingernails painted and is so proud of them!

Pule

Learning to walk

When he was admitted to LITTLE EDEN, Pule – a three-year old boy – was unable to walk. He has a condition called equinovarus (feet deformation) which, left untreated, will not only prevent him from walking, but also cause great discomfort.

Pule wears splints to correct the problem and our physiotherapy assistant, Vanneau, developed a daily programme of strengthening, walking and standing exercises. Over the weekends, when there is no therapy, Pule uses a walking ring.

It took quite a while, but little Pule was so determined and eventually he was able to take a few steps on his own. He so enjoys his new freedom!

Learning to walk

Bo suffers from Ataxic Cerebral Palsy which affects her balance and co-ordination of movement. Although able to pull herself up and stand by holding onto things, when she first came to us, she could not stand or walk independently.

Being a bubbly and determined little girl, she responded well to intense physio-therapy and is now able to take between seven and fifteen steps before falling over.

Nothing gets this little champion down and her favourite game is to race against her friend Pule on the mat!

Tshepo

Learning to walk

9-year old Tshepo is able to walk, has limited conversation and understands simple instruction. But his spastic, deformed hands prevent him from doing anything for himself. When he came to us, the only way he could eat was by bending over his plate and picking up food in his mouth.

Tshepo has been fitted with two different splints: one helps him feed himself and the other is worn throughout the day to try and correct the problem. Over time, we hope that he will be able to play with his toys as well as experience less discomfort.