In June 2004, the SHAWCO Nyanga Centre was opened under SHAWCO’s management – the plan being that SHAWCO would develop and utilise the centre and hand it over to the Nyanga Seniors’ Club in mid-2009. Since that time, the centre has been renovated and refurbished and is flourishing.

There are now 55 members in the Nyanga Seniors’ Club (for elderly people and those on disability pension). These members attend the social club daily and receive two meals a day. There are also 39 members who are part of the meals-on-wheels programme. Their ages range from 33-83 years of age, the majority in their senior years. The seniors also receive various workshops on topics such as Seniors’ safety and health.  

Three times a year, two Occupational Therapy students are sent to work at the club. They are involved in running programmes for the seniors, and helping the members with mobility, health issues and income generation – as well as helping the club manager with organisational skills.

Two student-run projects are based at the Nyanga Centre. Masizikhulise provides training in business entrepreneurship, computer skills, health promotion and HIV to unemployed youth (from 18-34 years old) in order to enable them either to start their own businesses or to develop their “employability”.  The SHAWCO Sports project also runs in Nyanga twice a week at the Community Stadium – providing netball and soccer programmes for Grade 4-7 learners.

Twice a month, members of the Save the Children’s run clinics where children are weighed and appropriate formula provided to the caregivers of those children in need. The Ethiopian Independent Church also uses the premises for their weekly church services.