Our journey began in 2005 with a small pilot project at Malamulele Hospital in Limpopo. At the time, there were no therapists based at the hospital, and children with CP were supported by a small group of dedicated therapy assistants.
A team of volunteer therapists from Johannesburg spent five days working intensively with 26 children and their caregivers. During that week, something remarkable happened: the children made visible progress, and parents gained practical skills to continue therapy at home. The impact was far greater than expected — and it sparked the creation of Malamulele Onward in 2006.
From the beginning, our vision has been to address the rehabilitation needs of children with CP in rural areas of Southern Africa by building sustainable support systems.
Initially, our focus was on children and caregivers. But we soon realised that lasting change requires stronger services overall — including trained therapists, better support at hospitals and clinics, and stronger connections within communities.
Over the years, the organisation has grown from a small volunteer-led project into a well-established network supporting rural CP services across several regions in Southern Africa. Today, our work reaches hundreds of families and continues to expand through training, partnerships and community collaboration.
While much has changed since those early days, our purpose remains the same: helping children with CP and their families access the support they need to build brighter futures.
When you donate, you become part of a community that is changing lives. Your support helps provide therapy guidance, caregiver training, and essential resources for children living with cerebral palsy where services are often limited. Every contribution—big or small—helps a child gain more comfort, more independence, and more opportunity for the future. Together, we can make sure no child is left behind.
