A R790 000 vehicle donation has broken down a massively restrictive barrier to sound education and opened up a world of possibilities for special needs learners attending a Lenasia, Johannesburg school, thanks to the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT).
The Maleehah Laylaa Centre for Special Needs, established in 2011, has long been a beacon of inclusivity and holistic development, with its unwavering commitment focused on student-centered learning. However, the lack and unaffordability of an appropriate vehicle had a serious impact on its educational activities, until the SAMCT stepped in to assist.
SAMCT representative, Mr. Gaff Osman, said of the vehicle donation: “The centre has long dreamt of a future where transportation was not a barrier to education. We, of the SAMCT, are pleased to have been able to turn that dream into a reality, ensuring that the special needs learners the school serves are now able to arrive safely and on time, ready to learn and grow.”
The Maleehah Laylaa Centre believes that every child, regardless of their challenges, deserves access to quality education and the opportunity to pursue their dreams. This school is dedicated to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment where children with special needs can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Mr. Osman said: “Appropriate transport is a core component of any organization involved in educating those with special needs. The Maleehah Laylaa Centre is just such an organization. These young people, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, have the same rights as their counterparts attending mainstream schools to participate in extracurricular activities, field trips, and community outings, thus enriching their educational experience and broadening their horizons.”
“Learning of the school’s transport predicament, the SAMCT was very keen to assist, sponsoring a vehicle which would go some way towards empowering youngsters with special needs to overcome otherwise seemingly insurmountable barriers and to pursue their passions. Access to a vehicle has now assisted in enabling them to develop bright futures for themselves,” he added.
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al Baraka Bank for the creation, marketing, and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The organization provides funding, services, and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the vulnerable, deprived, and disadvantaged.
It has been singularly successful in delivering sizeable assistance solutions throughout South Africa, irrespective of race or religion, and continues to work to support needy organizations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation, and education.
The Maleehah Laylaa Centre is responsible for the growth and achievement of those in its charge, and this responsibility is shared between its dedicated educators, therapists, and caregivers who work diligently to nurture, inspire, and motivate each child.
Its aspirations extend well beyond academics; the intention is to develop ‘the whole person,’ encompassing intellectual, physical, emotional, and social dimensions. The centre aims to build a solid ethical character within its learners, fostering ongoing healthy and positive relationships.
“With many of its learners coming from families facing financial difficulties, the school faced the need to provide transport to and from the school, as well as to local clinics and a range of extramural activities. The centre also assists the special needs of other community members and stroke victims with assistive devices for which a vehicle is essential. The SAMCT is proud to have partnered with the Maleehah Laylaa Centre and to be able to play a small, though critical, role in ensuring its learners have access to the resources they so richly deserve to realize their full potential,” Mr. Osman concluded.
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For more information about the SAMCT or its Maleehah Laylaa Centre for Special Needs vehicle donation, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za