Khayelitsha Special School receives vocational training support from Dutch school.

Pupils at Khayelitsha Special School received a major boost this week when the Yonder School for Sports and Education from Tilburg in the Netherlands donated equipment and supplies to support vocational training in hospitality, sport, beauty care, and tourism.

The handover took place at the school on Tuesday, February 10. Khayelitsha Special School, commonly known as K1, is the only school in the area catering for pupils with cognitive disabilities, accommodating children with special needs between the ages of six and 18.

K1 principal Busisiwe Velebhayi expressed gratitude for the continued support and presence of the Dutch students and teachers.

“We are always happy to have visitors, even if they simply come to spend time with our learners. It is not only about donations, and about the care and love shown to our children. They enjoy meeting new people, and seeing visitors come all the way from another country is very special. The donations are a bonus,” she said.

She commended the group for returning after a previous visit last year.

“Special needs learners thrive on interaction. People often visit mainstream schools, so for them to choose our school again means a lot. It shows commitment and brings joy to our learners,” she said.

Ms Velebhayi said the school places a strong emphasis on skills development, with about 20% of the curriculum focused on academics and 80% on practical skills.

Training areas, she said, included hospitality, hairdressing, nail and beauty care, woodwork, and construction.

“We are an inclusive school designed to prepare learners for life beyond the classroom. At the age of 18, they exit the system with practical skills that can help them become more independent,” she said.

Yonder teacher Joost Sondaal said the school began visiting South Africa in 2005 as part of an international exchange programme aimed at exposing learners to different social realities.

“There is a big gap between the very poor and the very rich in South Africa. We aim for our students to understand these realities and contribute positively. Our learners stay with local families to experience daily life, and we take part in community activities such as sports tournaments, youth programmes, and other outreach projects,” he said.

During their visit to K1, the group donated vocational training equipment and spent time interacting and playing with the pupils.

Deputy principal Nondumiso Mayile thanked the visitors, saying the donations would enhance teaching and learning. Hairdressing and beauty care teacher Sisanda Vena added that the contributions were especially valuable as many learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds and the school is always in need of additional resources.

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