Final-year Nursing student, Thabiso Boshomane handing over some of the clothing items they received from donations from fellow students on campus, here she is seen being appreciated by representatives from Moletji Centre
By Reuben Maake | reuben.maake@ul.ac.za
Final-year nursing students from the University of Limpopo (UL) have stepped up to support the Moletji Centre, a school dedicated to children with intellectual disabilities, by donating much-needed clothes and food
The donation comes as the centre battles limited resources and infrastructure challenges, including the lack of a functioning kitchen, which hampers its ability to provide regular, nutritious meals. Despite its crucial role in the community, the facility continues to struggle with maintaining a safe and supportive environment for its learners.
“We are truly grateful for the generosity shown by the nursing students,” said Donacious Ramabu, the Centre’s Manager. “These donations will address some of our immediate needs, but we still face significant challenges. The children urgently need proper play equipment, educational resources, and a fully functional kitchen to prepare meals.”
The nursing students, on the brink of taking their oath of service, organised this donation drive as part of their community outreach initiative. According to Dr Mokgobola Thobakgale, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Nursing at UL, the initiative aligns with the students’ final-year clinical module, Preventive and Rehabilitative Health Care Practice, which focuses on mental health and primary healthcare.
“The annual outreach programme allows our nursing students to celebrate and support persons with disabilities while gaining practical insights into managing intellectual disabilities within the community,” said Dr Thobakgale.
Through their visit, the students also learned about the challenges faced by children with disabilities, including the importance of community resources and strategies for effective caregiving.
One of the students, Thabiso Boshomane, expressed the group’s motivation: “We felt it was important to contribute to a cause that supports children with special needs. The centre is doing incredible work in very challenging circumstances, and we wanted to help in any way we could.”
The centre, established as a legacy of the late Professor Chuene Kgole, a revered facilitator of Psychiatric Nursing Science at UL, continues to appeal to the broader community for support. It urgently needs toys, educational materials, and volunteers, as well as financial assistance to complete its infrastructure and enhance its services.
Local businesses, organisations, and individuals are encouraged to contribute towards the centre’s mission of providing an enriching environment for these children.
While the nursing students’ gesture has offered a glimmer of hope, the centre still has a long way to go in creating a sustainable, well-equipped space for the children in its care.
For more information on how to assist, contact Moletji Centre or the Department of Nursing at UL.
One of the infrastructures at the Moletji Centre needs refurbishments as it doubles both as a kitchen and classroom