Meet The Children
Get to know the incredible children and adults who call Little Eden home. Each of them has a unique story, an inspiring spirit, and a personality that lights up our world. Through love, care, and specialised support, we help them embrace life to the fullest and celebrate every little victory along the way.
Khutatso
Khutatso Mashao, a resident at Little Eden, Elvira Rota Village has an infectious giggle and a determination to live that inspires everyone around her.
Khutatso Mashao, a resident at Little Eden, Elvira Rota Village has an infectious giggle and a determination to live that inspires everyone around her.
Khutatso is part of the ERV music therapy group where she gets an opportunity to explore different music instruments, sounds and emotions. She especially loves playing the triangles and shaker and singing her favourite song, “Baa baa Black Sheep”.
The music therapy group session also teaches her social skills, which are handy when she goes to the ERV “school” (ERV starter literacy programme).
Khutatso could not read or write when she started “school” two years ago. She is currently doing very well and she can now identify many colours. Her favourite activity in class is to colour in pictures, using the crayons the colours of which she has learnt to identify.
She is also currently learning how to count, write and read. Her vocabulary has improved and she can now answer questions related to a story.
Lesley
Lesley loves music and he participates in individual music therapy sessions and is part of the ERV drumming group.
Lesley Compaan is based at Little Eden, Elvira Rota Village. Despite his physical limitations he is determined to live his life to the full.
Lesley loves music and he participates in individual music therapy sessions and is part of the ERV drumming group. He enjoys expressing himself through singing, especially spiritual songs. Lesley uses his music therapy sessions to express his faith and relationship with God. The music sessions help him process and express his emotions.
Lesley is unable to use his hands and so he uses his feet to participate in many activities that other people do with their hands. He can play a keyboard, drums, cymbals and chimes with his feet. He can also use his feet to colour in or to paint.
Lesley is one of the “students” in the ERV starter literacy programme (also called “school” by the ERV residents) where he learned to “write” with his feet. He learned to use a keyboard with which he spells out words that he has learned. His “teachers” are very proud of his progress and say he is learning fast and has progressed so well in the three years since he started “school” that he is able to communicate with his carers and other residents by spelling out the words he knows. He can also put these words in a sentence and can identify pictures when someone reads a story to him.
Wynand
Wynand van Wyngaard is like a grandfather to other residents in Boitemelo Wing in the Edenvale Home at Little Eden He has such a gentle and caring heart. He is always trying to put a smile on his friends’ faces.
Wynand van Wyngaard is like a grandfather to other residents in Boitemelo Wing in the Edenvale Home at Little Eden He has such a gentle and caring heart. He is always trying to put a smile on his friends’ faces.
He always has a big smile on his face and aims to make life better for those around him – residents as well as staff. If someone has a bad or sad day, he goes to that person, holding their hand and always seems to know just what to say to make them feel better.
He has a comprehensive vocabulary. He is able tell his carers what he wants and understands what is being said to him.
Although Wynand cannot read he always has a book with him, through which he pages regularly. With his vivid imagination he makes up stories of the pictures he sees in these books, to the delight of his carers and other residents.
Wynand is great with puzzles, even some complicated ones. He also enjoys lego blocks. His eagerness to learn is amazing – learning the colours and numbers while he colours in.
Due to his physical disability, Wynand uses a trolley bed. However, he is strong enough in his upper body to keep himself comfortable in his bed.
Zach
Zach is Green Wing’s biggest socialite at Little Eden’s Edenvale Home. Despite being unable to speak, he communicates effectively through his infectious smile, unique sounds, and expressive head movements
Zach is Green Wing's biggest socialite at Little Eden's Edenvale Home. Despite being unable to speak, he communicates effectively through his infectious smile, unique sounds, and expressive head movements, understanding and responding to simple questions with genuine engagement.
During physiotherapy, he works diligently on strengthening his core muscles to independently navigate his wheelchair and has significantly improved his fine motor skills—progressing from beating drums with his hands to skillfully using drumsticks. His coordination exercises include catching and throwing balls, which he approaches with enthusiasm.
Always eager to learn, Zach recently mastered brushing his teeth—a significant achievement that boosted his confidence. He enjoys puzzles, blocks, storytimes, and painting, while his love for music makes him a standout performer in Christmas and other concerts where his smile lights up the stage. With a remarkable memory for his daily routine and a helpful nature that extends to cleaning the therapy room after sessions, Zach's vibrant personality brings joy to staff, visitors and fellow residents alike.
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