“She is a very industrious lady who works very hard to improve other people’s lives and also brings social acceptance to those being neglected.”

Community Award Finalist – Sherita Mandongwe

A car crash left Sherita in a coma needing lifesaving spinal surgery. During this time, she also became a widow, leaving her caring for two children with learning disabilities whilst grieving for her husband. Coming to terms with her situation, Sherita decided to use her experiences to support other women in a similar situation.

“She is a very industrious lady who works very hard to improve other people’s lives and also brings social acceptance to those being neglected.”

Sherita established The Dimobi Children’s Disability Trust in 2016, a specialist charity which provides support for families of children with Autism and related Learning Disabilities, after she realised there was a general lack of awareness surrounding the needs of children with learning disabilities and/or autism, specifically within different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.

 In addition, cultural and religious stigmas associated with children with disabilities can preclude some parents from actively seeking professional help for their children at the earliest opportunity.

In addition, cultural and religious stigmas associated with children with disabilities can preclude some parents from actively seeking professional help for their children at the earliest opportunity. This results in the marginalisation of children with disabilities, which ultimately affects their health and wellbeing in later life.

Sherita went on to achieved a degree in Social Work to better understand her two sons’ disabilities and offer greater support within the charity. In 2019 she was awarded the Manchester Be Proud Volunteer of the Year Award

During the lockdown the Trust was inundated with calls asking for food support and Sherita launched the Dimobi Covid-19 Food Relief Support Programme and Domestic Abuse Service. This particular initiative has to date delivered 6000 parcels to over 2000 families, with 100 volunteers and funding from across the UK.