Sharane April & Zelda Cupido manages our Sunfield Home workshop and we are chatting to them to learn more about their background, their passion for Sunfield Home’s residents and their other interests.
Sharane is a native of Newton, ‘n small town outside of Wellington. She completed her primary school education at Newton Primary and matriculated at Bergrivier Secondary School. After matric, she worked in a shop for 27 years before she took computer classes at Boland College as well as a carer course. This enabled her to offer private care to various people, including a paraplegic.
Sharane joined Sunfield Home as a house mother during September 2008 and also helped out at the workshop, where she is now involved full time.
Her work entails caring for the residents including prepping them for breakfast and doing bible study with them. They then retreat back to their rooms or houses to clean and return for contract work. Contracts include making cards for the La Vie de Luc bottles as well as packing DGB Wine gift packs. She also assists the residents with exercise and they love dancing.
Before lockdown, she was responsible for excursions and also accompanied the residents to swimming galas. She is so proud of those that participated in the Special Olympics, brought back medals, and appeared on the TV show Espresso!
The most rewarding part of her job is seeing the smiles and happiness on the faces of the residents when they conquer a difficult task. Her challenges include motivating a resident to keep trying in order to derive joy from their activities.
“ We have to learn empathy and patience with disabled people, but also learn to show them love. These people have many obstacles and only want acceptance. They give so much of themselves – especially hugs! We need to have a caring heart towards them.”
Sharane was married, but is now divorced and has two sons. She said the Lord carried her through difficult times as a single parent. One of her sons is an entrepreneur who buys and sells various goods and her eldest works at MTN and is also a maths tutor. They are both married and she has 5 grandchildren!
Her favourite drink is passion fruit en lemonade, she loves pasta, enjoys a good book and her dream holiday is by the seaside!
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Zelda Cupido has been living in Wellington all her life and matriculated at Weltevrede Senior Secondary school. As a young girl, she always wanted to become a nurse, but financially her parents weren’t able to pay for further studies. She, therefore, worked as a home-based carer for a community NPO and could live her passion. She joined the Sunfield team in 2014 as a facilitator to late Jan Pieter Van der Harst. In 2015 she was appointed as house mother which also includes cleaning and offering emotional as well as spiritual support to the residents. As part of the workshop team, she keeps the residents busy with contract work, sensory activities, and arts and crafts.
The most enjoyable part of her job is the difference she is making, to such an extent that on the days that she is feeling down, she can leave her cares at the door when entering Sunfield Home. She is also very proud of the residents who excel in sport and admits her challenge lies in supporting the residents to interact better with each other in groups. She now gets to be a nurse, minister, and psychologist – all in one day!
Zelda believes that any person with a disability deserves a fair chance and place in the sun.“We all handle challenges differently, let us take hands and change the stigma surrounding disability.”
Zelda has been married for 20 years and has two sons. Her eldest is 23 and works in wholesale. Her youngest is 19 and works as a general worker at a private electrician firm.
Her favourites include seafood, braaivleis and a cocktail! Her dream holiday would be by white sand and blue waters. She also enjoys sport and working with her hands.
