For 10 years, The Open Circle has been a lifeline for adults with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. This Cape Town-based NPO is now marking a decade of impact, inclusion and care.
Nestled quietly in the heart of Maitland’s Alexandra Hospital precinct, The Open Circle has been doing something extraordinary for a full decade, caring for adults with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour in a way that’s both compassionate and bold. This year, as the non-profit celebrates its 10th anniversary, the moment is more than a marker of time. It’s a tribute to people who, for too long, have been excluded from care systems simply because their needs didn’t fit the mould.
Founded in 2015 as a pilot project in partnership with the Western Cape Departments of Health and Social Development, The Open Circle started small. Just an idea; a belief, really, that adults with complex needs deserve more than just a place to stay. They deserve a place to live, to grow, to belong.
Today, that belief stands tall as home to 30 residents, each one receiving medium to high-level care tailored to their unique needs. The focus? Quality of life. Dignity. Independence. And most of all, inclusion.
“From the beginning, The Open Circle has been unwavering in its commitment to provide quality care to our vulnerable residents,” says Facility Manager Helita Mankahla. “We believe that we have created a blueprint for an effective care service for adults with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour, as well as a model for how various stakeholders can come together to implement solutions.”
And that blueprint is already showing results.
Residents once deemed “too difficult” for other programmes now participate in community outings. Some hold jobs. Others are brushing their teeth unassisted, learning to manage their own routines, and experiencing things that once felt out of reach. There are monthly visits from therapy animals. Smiles. Stability. A powerful reduction in hospital admissions. And in some cases, the unimaginable has become reality: full reintegration back into family life and society.
These aren’t just wins, they are breakthroughs; deeply personal, often hard-won, and entirely worth celebrating.
At their recent 10-year celebration, hosted at Rondebosch Golf Club, there was no shortage of pride and emotion in the room. Long-term partners, donors, volunteers, and staff gathered alongside families and residents to honour the milestone. Among the guests was Minister of Social Development for the Western Cape, Jaco Londt, a nod to the critical role government partnerships have played in making the project a success.
But the real heroes? The staff who’ve been there from the start, many of whom have grown into experts in their fields. And the families, who, after years of burnout and heartbreak, are now able to connect with their loved ones without fear or fatigue.
As Helita puts it: “Our staff approach their daily work as a calling rather than a job.”
Looking forward, The Open Circle is ready to grow. Plans are in place to launch smaller group homes, introduce a day programme, and roll out a new community-based outreach service to support families raising children with challenging behaviour.
In a world still learning how to care inclusively, The Open Circle is quietly, and powerfully, leading the way.
And after ten years of showing what’s possible when people are treated with empathy and equity, one thing is clear: this isn’t just a story of care, its one that highlights great progress.
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