Edenvale Home

Ranging in age from just a few months to 53 years, the residents include people with mental illness, disturbed behaviour, multiple physical disabilities and epilepsy. They are divided according to their age and abilities to ensure each receives appropriate care and stimulation in the best possible environment.

Smaller children and those requiring frequent medical care generally live at our Edenvale Home, situated on the corner of Harris Avenue & Wagenaar Road in Edenglen. Built on one level for wheelchair accessibility, the home comprises seven wings, a kitchen, laundry, administration office, therapy centre, chapel, games hall and workshop.

Each of the 180 mentally disabled children who live here has his or her own bed or cot; many also have specially adapted wheelchairs to assist them in sitting upright. Their days are spent in bright, airy and colourful rooms, where they are encouraged to partcipate in various activities and therapies according to their needs and level of development.

Therapy
The children benefit from various treatments on a daily basis. These include occupational, hydro-, physio- and music therapy, metamorphosis and reflexology. They also participate in creative activities and have produced some of the artwork on display in the Homes. Beautiful concerts (mid-year and at Christmas) are staged each year with the hard work and dedication of staff, and each child has a chance to participate.

Children who have the ability to respond are taught to brush their own teeth (under supervision), to dress and undress themselves, to be potty-trained, as well as other simple self-help skills. The children benefit from a set, daily routine in that they feel secure and have a sense of belonging.

How to get to the Edenvale Home.

Elvira Rota Village

A further 110 older and more mobile residents are better suited to life at Elvira Rota Village, our 43ha farm in Bapsfontein.

Although they participate in farming activities such as tending the cows and sheep, horseriding and processing the pecan nut harvest, this is part of the therapy and stimulation programme, rather than a contribution to the farm’s commercial success.

Those who wish to are encouraged to be involved in the daily chores – whether it’s rinsing dishes in the kitchen, folding laundry, or just ensuring the farm is free of litter. More recently, the children have been involved in the creation of a wetland area on the farm, and the laying of paving slabs for the labyrinth. Activities such as these provide a sense of achievement and ‘belonging’ which adds to their wellbeing.

How to get to Elvira Rota Village, Bapsfontein.

Staff

With most of the children requiring individual, round the clock care, LITTLE EDEN depends on the dedication of (two hundred and twelve) 225 specially trained members of staff. Staff work in shifts to provide a continuous service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year!

The children are bathed, teeth are brushed twice a day and they are massaged, turned, carried and nursed. Most residents also receive medicine at least twice a day.

The teachers and therapists work with the children at their level – in some instances progress is not apparent. It can take months and even years to see some level of development. However, the children's contentment and completeness is the progress.

In our industrial kitchens, 290 meals are prepared five times per day and the industrial laundries ensure that 2 500 nappies are washed daily, apart from linen and clothing for all the residents.

Second hand shops

Our second hand shops – located in Edenvale [cnr 3rd Street & 8th Avenue. Tel 011 453 8065] and Primrose [Shop 6, Shamrock Village, cnr Shamrock and Rietfontein Roads. Tel +27 (0) 11 609 7246] – generate considerable income each year towards the cost of caring for the children at LITTLE EDEN.

Right now we are running low on fast-selling items such as shoes, men’s clothing, jerseys, linen, bags, cd’s, games, puzzles and toys. If you have cupboards that can be cleaned out, please, please bring all your unwanted items in reasonable condition to either shop, or to the Edenvale Home.

Bargain hunters are invited to visit our shops on Mon-Fri from 9am to 4pm or on Saturdays from 8.30am to 12.30pm.