Amathemba is a Xhosa word that means "our hope." We believe that every child with special needs should have the right to access education. Amathemba was founded to provide hope for children who, due to cognitive, behavioural, and emotional challenges, are unable to succeed in the traditional school system. It is one of the few schools in South Africa that provides for the unique requirements of children with FASD and similar neurological disabilities.

At Amathemba, our qualified teachers, therapists, and support staff teach from the core curriculum, which is made up of many learning programs that have been carefully chosen and adapted to our children's unique requirements. Each child’s unique needs are noted in an individualized education plan (IEP) from the start and are continuously modified as the child grows and develops. This individualised approach to learning ensures the child is prepared for either integration into a mainstream academically focused curriculum or a vocational curriculum with the aim of obtaining vocational employment.

The progress that the children attending Amathemba School are making is truly remarkable. We are immensely proud of our students, some of whom were deemed to be uneducable by mainstream schools, but have shown steady improvement and, against all odds, are now reading and writing.

For more information on how to attend Amathemba School, contact education@homeofhope.co.za