A mother’s determination has ignited a funding campaign to rebuild a special needs school that has become a lifeline for her son and many other neurodiverse children.
Johannesburg, South Africa (05 August 2025) – Several schools face various financial, structural and resource-related challenges in our country, but when her son’s special needs school suffered fire damage, Nadiah Brink, a determined mom, took matters into her own hands to help.
In the Chrysalis Academy in Johannesburg, Nadiah has found a support system and lifeline not just for herself as a parent, but for her eight-year-old son, diagnosed with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).
“I have struggled to get a proper special needs school for him. I found a beautiful, caring school in Chartwell that can accommodate him with the school fees that I can afford. Not many special needs schools have fees that are as accommodating as theirs, being a mom of three kids.
“They help kids build themself up and understand their own and other special needs kids ‘ needs,” Nadiah shares.
In addition to the fire recovery, the school is currently in the process of setting up a baby centre, which her little one will be attending. Nadiah’s mission? To help the school raise funds so that they can succeed in opening this amazing facility, which will serve as a safe and enriching learning space for neurodiverse and neurotypical children.
“About two years ago, there was a fire, and the school is still recovering from that. With the funds raised, we can help not only with the baby centre but also with the other school facilities.”
“This school teaches the new generation to be kind to each other, no matter what. They teach the children that you must give respect in order to receive respect. The kids are so kind and mindful of everything,” Nadiah motivates.
Nadiah is hoping to raise R50,000 for Chrysalis Academy and has launched a BackaBuddy campaign to garner support from the public. To help a mother in her cause, visit the crowdfunding page here.
Sources: Supplied
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