Built by the community, for the community, a new, fully equipped therapeutic sensory facility has turned everyday items into a colourful sanctuary for neurodiverse young explorers in Orange Farm.
Orange Farm, South Africa (20 April 2026) – An old shipping container, discarded plastic water bottles, and empty detergent jugs. All items that, under normal circumstances, would have found their way into a rubbish bin and ultimately a landfill. Except, they didn’t.
Instead, they were scrubbed clean and reimagined, transformed into brilliant sensory toys and vibrant installations that now fill the most enriching space!
“What some call ‘waste’, a community turned into something powerful,” Afrika Tikkun shares.
The organisation’s Arekopaneng Centre in Orange Farm recently developed and opened doors to a fully equipped therapeutic sensory facility. Built from a repurposed shipping container and incorporating recycled materials, this space was created with the community, not just for it. Parents, caregivers, and community members helped bring it to life, turning everyday materials into something meaningful!
“This space will support children and young people who are neurodiverse or navigating developmental, emotional, and sensory challenges, helping them regulate, learn and engage with the world around them in a safe, supportive environment,” Afrika Tikken explains.
One parent shared how she was so thankful to the organisation for incorporating this facility at her daughter’s school.
“I watched it slowly being built every afternoon when I walked past to fetch my daughter it is indeed incredibly beautiful,” she said.
Afrika Tikkun is hopeful that this new space will inspire and create a positive environment for this mom’s child and all learners at the Centre.
By providing a carefully crafted environment that standard playgrounds may overlook, this space bridges the gap for children who have previously felt overwhelmed or excluded, ensuring their unique way of experiencing the world is met with understanding.
Innovation doesn’t always come from having more; sometimes it comes from reimagining what we already have and working together to create something meaningful – and that is what has so beautifully been achieved in the heart of Orange Farm.
Sustainable. Inclusive. Built to last.
Sources: Afrika Tikkun
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