Bonne Mere is a ‘Special Needs’ facility and craft workshop accommodating children and young adults with Downs Syndrome and Autism. It is led by Mrs. Maryjanes Zama, supported by a wonderful team of staff with special-needs training.
Exercise equipment and arts & craft materials
During our get-together with Clairette in January 2022, she advised us of the need for additional exercise equipment (bouncy balls, hula hoops, play tunnel, yoga mats, cones, etc.) for the Unit, and arts and craft materials (paints, brushes, canvas) for the workshop, which we were most happy to provide; and we have been delighted to purchase and display in our house in Queen Victoria several of the excellent paintings and collages created by attendees at the workshop.
Since 2022 our Foundation has continued to provide Bonne Mere SEN Unit with further supplies of arts and craft materials for their creative workshop, together with a range of visual stimulus for use by the younger benefactors.
Digital tablets and headphones
We were intrigued to learn from Clairette her belief that digital tablets could be used effectively to stimulate active engagement among the Unit’s benefactors; we had – naively – assumed that such equipment would be too complicated for the children to operate – how wrong were we! Following our Foundation’s purchase of several tablets and stereo headsets, we were delighted to witness during our next visit to the Unit in September 2022 the children actively engaged with the various visual stimulus programs installed on the tablets.
“With the support of The Anderson Charitable Foundation we have been able to provide our benefactors with a range of adapted tools that meet their specific needs, allowing them to achieve greater personal development than would have otherwise been possible.”
Mrs. Clairette Berque
Principal, Bonne Mere SEN Integrated Unit
Sensory Products
In early 2024, the principal of Bonne Mere SEN Unit, Mrs. Clairette Berque, made a request to our Foundation for the purchase of a range of sensory products for use by the Unit’s benefactors, and during our visit to the Unit in October 2024 we were pleased to be informed by Clairette that the products purchased were very useful in both stimulating and calming the benefactors.
Colour Printer
During our visit to the Unit in October 2025 the principal, Maryjanes, informed us that acquiring a colour printer would enhance the creative expression of the Unit’s beneficiaries, and our Foundation immediately funded the purchase of a printer, ink and paper for the Unit. When we returned to the Unit in February 2026 we were both delighted and most impressed to see examples of the beneficiaries creations, especially the beautiful ‘Valentine’s Day’ gift created for Jacqui and Richard – thank you boys and girls, your creation is now on full display at our house in Queen Victoria, Flacq.
PA and Sound System
When we visited the Unit and met principal Maryjanes in February 2026 she informed us that the beneficiaries would benefit greatly from a good sound system, as music is a great stimulator for them. Following our Foundation’s purchase of a appropriate PA and sound system for the Unit, we were delighted to receive from Maryjanes videos of the beneficiaries enjoying a marvelous time celebrating Mauritius Independence Day.
St. Mary RCEA SEN Unit, Moka, Mauritius
Colour Printer
In October 2025 we made our first visit to St. Mary SEN Unit in Moka to meet with principal, Clairette Berque, with whom we have enjoyed a long relationship which commenced when we first met her at Bonne Mere SEN Unit in 2019. Clairette informed us of the Unit’s desire to obtain a colour printer to enable the beneficiaries the scope to create and produce more colourful work. Our Foundation duly funded the purchase of a colour printer, ink and paper, and we have been delighted to receive examples of beatifully-expressive work created by the beneficiaries.
