Special needs school in need of funding

Leandrea Louw
The Stepping Stones Special Education School received a visit from the German embassy last week Friday.

The embassy funded the renovations of the building the school is currently occupying.

They share the premises with the Grade Rs of Private School Swakopmund. The school caters for children with autism although children with Down's syndrome are also accommodated.

The school currently has 19 learners (ages 2 to 12), two of them with Down's syndrome and the rest with autism. Stepping Stone was established in 2015 by Elmarie Mostert in Swakopmund.

The school has eight staff members who are responsible for four classes. Classes are divided into age groups, two to three, four to six, seven to eleven, and the last class is for those who can already do some schoolwork.

“I started the school in my own backyard, with only five children. With the years we slowly grew with more children, and had to move twice. Our plan is to expand, and we've acquired land in Ocean View to build a bigger school.” She estimates the costs will amount to between N$4 and 6 million.

Thus far they are past the concept phase of the school. She explains that their contract with the architect stipulates that they have to start building before May 2019. “We're busy with three fundraising events. We now have a raffle tickets draw; we'll be hosting a golf day on 7 December as well as a celebrity day. ”