Thato Makhanya joined Nkanyezi in July 2009 and at the time the gorgeous 3 year was wheel chair bound. After allowing her some time for adjustment to this new environment so different from her home – the only environment she had known till now – Prisca, centre founder and manager decided she was going to teach her to walk. Despite how good Prisca is at her job she is equipped with only love and determination, no formal education and very few resources, as such making her determination even more admirable. So during September and October Prisca introduced Thato to a standing frame and day after day spent time teaching and encouraging Thato to use it. She was hesitant at first but once she put her mind to it, it was only a matter of time until she was buzzing around the centre using her frame. In February 2010 it was decided that Thato’s leg muscles had developed enough that it was time to start teaching her to walk without the frame. One month later she was officially walking on her own! Now she moves around the centre at will and in fact one of her favourite games is to run away from her carers, laughing with every step that she takes!
