Before teaching at the IECD centre, Rueben was not doing much - "I was just roaming around the community all day, basically doing nothing". He now teaches over 30 enthusiastic children.
The centre changes more than just the lives of the children who attend.
For other children with disabilities in the community, Rueben thinks he can be a role model: "If they see I can do it, they will know they can too."
For Joyce’s mum, having a role model that her daughter can relate to is important. She is inspired by Ruben because, "the teacher also has a physical disability and if her teacher has a disability, [I feel that] the teacher is like your brother with a disability".
For Joyce, attending a centre where she feels accepted and loved has been great not only for her education but for the development of her social skills and confidence. "I have seen a huge change in my child, she can sing and even recite her alphabet and her numbers because of this Inclusive Early Childhood Development centre," says Tau, who is delighted that both of her daughters are able to access inclusive education.
"In the class, she is happy because she
is singing with her friends, she is playing
with her friends and as a mother I see
that she forgets that she has a disability."