 People
with big hearts
Right from our earliest beginnings in 1960, The Rachel
Swart Fund has been inspired by the courage and fortitude
of those it serves.
Above all, we identify with disabled people's wish to
lead full, active and independent lives – which we
help them to achieve by providing motorised wheelchairs
and devices for specialised postural support. Since he
received his wheelchair, Soren [pictured right] is able
to catch the bus on his own and get out and about whenever
he chooses.
Receiving a motorised wheelchair makes a major difference
in a disabled person's life. It changes them from being
dependent on helpers to being able to move around on their
own, to socialise and, in some cases, to find employment.
Click here for more stories
of those we have helped.
Lifelong loan
Wheelchairs and other equipment are supplied on a loan
basis; they remain the property of the Rachel Swart Fund
and must be returned to us when they are no longer needed.
Maintenance
Funding the wheelchairs is one thing – maintaining
them is another altogether! Repairs have to be carried out
in main centres by special technicians, which means our staff
are kept busy organising transport logistics.
We also need
to supply a steady stream of batteries. Each battery can
only be charged so many times, after which is has to be
replaced at a cost of around R800. Donations
towards new batteries are always received
with huge gratitude!
Who we help
Many of the appeals for help we receive come from national
and local organisations such as The Association for the
Physically Disabled, the Cerebral Palsy Association,
Cheshire Homes and the St Giles Association, hospitals
and schools for Learners with Special Needs. Social workers
or representatives of these institutions often provide
valuable assistance in assessing applications.
We also fund care centres for children with disabilities,
while they are in the process of registering to receive
a government subsidy, and emergency financial aid to victims
of sports injuries, road accidents and violent crime.
Organisation Structure
The Rachel Swart Fund is governed by a volunteer committee
of nine people from various professional backgrounds.
It is administered by three staff members, two of whom
have physical disabilities. Salaries for staff are paid
from dividends received, thus 100
per cent of every donation received goes directly towards
helping those in need. Please
click here to download a copy of our annual report.
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