Marcelle Daniels, co-founder of the NPO, tells us about the wonderful initiative
and what their Club Cares donation means to them

One of our recent  R10 000 Club Cares donations went towards The Caitlin Douman Foundation, an NPO that focusses on the needs of children with disabilities, as well as those close to them. We got to know more about their mission and found out why they were nominated
by one of our readers.

Get to know the NPO

It was three years ago that two people with a passion for children with disabilities brought The Caitlin Douman Foundation to life. It was also the wrong perceptions that society and the government have towards disabled kids that ignited the inspiration for starting the NPO. ‘From neglect inflicted at the hands of government departments and health workers, to disrespect at the hands of society at large, people with disabilities need a voice, and that is what this foundation will address and strive to rectify,’ explains Marcelle. The foundation has partnered with various entities and provides a vast variety of services to children with disabilities, as well as their loved ones – mentoring programmes, various forms of therapy, training, and life coaching for families are only some of the outreach services that they offer to the community. ‘The Caitlin Douman Foundation is here to build an inclusive society by leaving no one behind, hence our centre is The Caitlin Douman Foundation Holistic Therapy Centre, ensuring everyone is catered for.’ The NPO’s biggest challenge is paying for basic day-to-day bills, as the foundation is not funded by the government. ‘This also hinders us from running specific programmes to improve the condition of the person with the disability.’ It was therefore with great joy that the NPO accepted their Club Cares donation.

Helping the helper

For the nominator, Bridget Harris, The Caitlin Douman Foundation has always been close  to her heart. ‘My 23-year-old son is physically disabled with cerebral palsy. We met the team from The Caitlin Douman Foundation when we attended an event for persons with disabilities in our neighbourhood,’ she shares. Bridget goes on to explain that she loves the NPO because they extend their services, help, knowledge and support to all surrounding communities – they impart disability awareness, training and support, as well as therapy. ‘I nominated them for a Club Cares donation because they advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities by improving their lives through awareness and training, which allows them to become more independent. The NPO is close to my heart because it was built on a foundation of love. The founder and volunteers are passionate and dedicated to being the voice for the voiceless.’ Marcelle and the team at The Caitlin Douman Foundation were overjoyed when they received the news that the NPO was  a Club Cares recipient. The donation will  take some financial pressure off of the management of the centre and it will be able to cover some of the basic needs. ‘We will also be able to do two small family support workshops, which we have put on hold due to certain restraints,’ Marcelle shares.‘To Bridget Harris and Jeran, thank you for always supporting our initiatives and for always thinking about how you can make a difference in this much-needed centre and, in return, touching the lives of others who benefit from the centre.’ 

Words by Bianca Muller
Photography: Courtesy Images