Pulane Baloyi, Executive Director of Malamulele Onward addressing the parent facilitators
Cerebral Palsy National Conference underway in Boksburg, Gauteng
Boksburg, Gauteng – 3 June 2025 — Thirty-four Parent Facilitators (PFs) from across South Africa and Lesotho have convened at the Emseni Christian Centre in Boksburg this week (2–6 June 2025) for a dedicated conference hosted by Malamulele Onward, a leading non-profit organisation providing specialised therapy and support to children with cerebral palsy and their families in under-resourced areas. The theme of the conference is “From Struggle to Strength – Changing Lives Through Connection.”.
PFs are parents of children with Cerebral Palsy who have taken on the extraordinary role of being peer educators and supporters to other families facing similar circumstances. Through their work, PFs bridge the gap between professional therapy services and the daily realities of caregiving, particularly in resource-constrained communities where access to information, medical support, and inclusive education is often limited or unavailable.
“These are parents who have turned their personal journeys and lived experiences into powerful tools of transformation,” said Pulane Baloyi, Executive Director of Malamulele Onward. “They are dismantling stigma and misinformation in their communities and replacing it with knowledge, empathy and hope.”
The five-day conference, which is being attended by PFs from Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng in South Africa, as well as Butha Butha, Leribe, Maseru, Mokhotlong, and Mohale’s Hoek in Lesotho, is a capacity-building opportunity for PFs who are engaged in a dynamic program that includes:
• Hands-on practical sessions with children focusing on classification, Cerebral Palsy type, positioning and goal setting;
• Training on Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) and the use of adaptive equipment;
• Strategies for working effectively in (and with) care centres and schools;
• Creative art activities and toy making using recyclable materials;
• Guidance on accessing psychosocial support services; and
• Essential practices in self-care and safety for both PFs and the families they support.
• Long service awards for PFs who have been with Malamulele Onward for more than ten years.
By equipping PFs with enhanced skills and renewed confidence, the conference affirms Malamulele Onward’s mission to build inclusive communities where families affected by Cerebral Palsy are informed, supported, and empowered.
“This conference is not only a learning space but also a celebration of resilience,” added Baloyi. “We are deeply proud of the PFs and all they represent in the broader movement for disability justice and community-based support.”
