Big dreams become a reality for Yonder

DREAMS do come true, and for Yonder, which is situated in Kenilworth, big dreams are now becoming reality.

When the Kenilworth Utility Company board of directors approved the construction of a new, cutting-edge kitchen and dining hall for the residents of Yonder in Kimberley, a long-cherished dream for the community was realised.

For adult persons living with an intellectual disability, Yonder is a safe workshop and after-care facility in Kimberley where 240 residents and 45 non-residents can find lodging. Everyone is given the opportunity to work creatively and profitably in a secure setting. Along with teaching the value of and pride in one's work, basic skills are also covered.

All social work techniques, medical and dental treatment, occupational therapy, sports and recreation, cultural activities, religious instruction, etc are included in the care Yonder provides. The goal of the multidisciplinary approach is to provide persons living with a disability with comprehensive care and therapy.

The DFA spoke to the director of Yonder in Kimberley, Jannie van Zyl. According to him, there has always been a need to safeguard children with special needs by giving them the chance to be trained, ever since the Northern Cape Mental Health Association was founded in 1951.

"In 1960 the Jannie Brink Special School was founded, and as a result of the instruction and skills the learners obtained, it became necessary to build safe havens for the learners who had to quit school and had nowhere else to go," he said.

According to Van Zyl, it was then that Yonder was founded in 1966 and it has since made groundbreaking contributions to the development of adult persons living with intellectual disabilities. Adult persons living with special needs are in a secure, sheltered setting where they develop skills that improve their quality of life.

The Kenilworth Utility Company was established in 1968 after buying the Kenilworth village from the De Beers Diamond Company with the intention of developing the community to help people with disabilities.

Van Zyl mentioned that all of the residents currently in Yonder come from the Northern Cape. "Every day, we pick up about 40 adult persons with special needs at their homes and bring them to Yonder and drop them off again later in the afternoon."

The institution has been so fortunate throughout the years that, after accumulating enough money over about 30 years, they decided to move forward and take on a new massive project. The project includes a 300-person dining hall and a modern, high-end kitchen with new appliances. This

will enable them to prepare daily meals for more than 750 people.

According to Van Zyl, the building will also be used as a teaching facility where people with disabilities can learn to prepare delicious meals in a secure setting. The project was formally turned over to the building contractor, a local business named Diozest (Pty) Ltd, on Wednesday. He mentioned that construction should be finished by the end of 2023 if everything goes according to plan.

"This is the last phase of a massive, ambitious master plan that took shape several years ago. Twenty-seven years ago, two excellent, large double-story homes, a single-story home, workshops, and an administrative office were constructed. Since then, the site's roads have been

fixed and upgraded, and all of the homes have had renovations and upgrades. Electric fencing and street lighting were installed to secure the property. The new kitchen and dining hall will now be built as the last phase," he said.

In addition to providing housing, the facility wants its members to thrive as Kimberley citizens and serve as an example of what a community can do when it works together to dream big.

Van Zyl also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Kimberley community and all business associates that assist Yonder in any way, no matter how minor. “Yonder would also like to thank everyone who attended the recent Hartsfees. Everyone who helped the Harstfees this year may be confident that the money we raised will be well invested,” he said.