South African Boy with Downs Syndrome Triumphs Over Prejudice

Sihle Batyia, at the Ikhaya Loxolo home in Hobeni in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province (VOA/Taylor)

Community elder and a caregiver at the home, Mama ka Blondie, often has the responsibility of supervising Sihle (VOA. D Taylor)

Sihle with his favorite toy – a battery operated toy space gun (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle fires his favorite toy constantly – much to the irritation of his fellow patients. (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle takes his parents, Jam-Jam [left] and Beauty, on a tour of the farm on which he works (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle is justifiably proud of his agricultural achievements (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle is justifiably proud of his agricultural achievements (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle says he “loves” being at Ikhaya Loxolo and never wants to leave the home (VOA/ D. Taylor)

A caregiver helps Sihle to write during a morning school lesson at Ikhaya Loxolo (VOA/ D. Taylor)

For the first time in his life, Sihle feels he has “real friends” at the home (VOA/ D. Taylor)

For the first time in his life, Sihle feels he has “real friends” at the home (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle pages through a coloring-in book (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle is very fond of helping to feed the home’s animals (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Sihle plays a card game with other residents and as usual, he’s full of jokes (VOA/ D. Taylor)