Services We Offer

Established in 1937, the Lighthouse Association for the Blind has been serving the needs of Blind and visually-impaired persons in the greater Cape Town area for over 75 years.

The Association does not receive any Government or official funding support, and is totally dependent on funding from the general public, and other interested parties.

The emphasis of our service is to provide a social outlet, to try to eliminate the loneliness that many Blind persons have to live with. We provide the assistance that many need with their daily living. For this purpose, we employ a part time “Home Visitor” to help our members where needed.

Membership at a small annual fee is open to all persons with a recognized sight problem. The club meets regularly in the Claremont Civic Centre on the first and third Thursday of the month. The first Thursday is a Games evening where members participate in playing Darts, Chess, Dominoes, or Bingo the third Thursday is a Social evening when, Talks on interesting subjects, Choral performances, or some form of entertainment is organized. Light refreshments are provided at these evening meetings.

Members are offered regular outings on weekends. Trips to Robben Eiland, up Table Mountain by cable car, a day’s outing to Goudini Spa or Club Mykonos walks on a beach, picnics, wine tasting, tea parties, and many other opportunities.

For all these meetings and outings, transport is provided from their place of living

In 1965 the club started an “Outreach “ program to provide some form of assistance to the indigent visually impaired people in the Townships around Cape Town. This was the start of the Lukhanyo club.

At present, Lukhanyo meets quarterly on the first Sunday of the month in the Salt River Civic Hall. Members do not pay a membership fee; they are however issued with membership identity cards, which entitle them to the privileges provided. Members are served a cooked three course meal, and at the end of the afternoon are given a grocery parcel to take home, musical entertainment is provided. Members are also re-reimbursed for their transport costs. Currently Lukanyo has a membership of +- 250 and for most of these meetings, an average of 150 persons attend.

These meetings are supported by the Rotary Club of Blouberg, whose members help with serving meals, handing out food parcels, and funding the entertainment.


Khayelitsha Lukhanyo

On Saterday 17th August this year the Khayelitsha Lukhanyo club had its first meeting.

With an encouraging attendance of 40 persons the attempt at starting smaller more manageable clubs in the suburbs is hopefully going to be the direction to go for future. Funded by a limited grant from the NAtional Lotto, the club will meet once a month. Members will have the services of a Xhosa speaking, part time "Home Visitor" that will help them with their special problems, organise outings for them and various other activities. Whenever possible, the local "sighted" community will be recruited to get involved with assistance on a voluntary basis. Should the Khayelitsha club prove successful, and if funds permit, the plan is to have a similar club in the suburbs of Nyanga and Gugulethu. These will eventually replace the need for larger quarterly group meetings in the Salt River Hall, which will be gradually fazed out.