Thusanani was established as a non-profit organization in South Africa in 2002, after Occupational Therapists working in the Soweto area noticed that the number of developmentally delayed orphans they were treating exceeded the service being provided for them.

Children were showing typical signs of institutionalization due to the severe lack of stimulation, which included rocking back and forth, reduced muscle bulk from minimal activity and displaying a general disinterest and apathy. The babies and toddlers had very few toys, if any to play with and nothing in their immediate surroundings to provide any stimulation. Staff shortages and insufficient training of care-workers also contributed to their delayed behaviour. These babies and toddlers did not appear healthy, when in fact many of them were both physically and mentally functional, and uninfected with HIV.

Most tragically, their behaviour was preventing them from being adopted as prospective parents saw them as being ill and weak.

Thusanani’s ultimate goal is to provide these children with the physical, emotional and cognitive stimulation and care that will encourage necessary development to reach their maximum potential.