{
  "id": 14911028,
  "title": "Benoni GenZ finds her calling helping special needs children",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/benoni-genz-finds-her-calling-helping-special-needs-children",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T08:14:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/benoni-gen-z-special-needs-children/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Life is unpredictable, as the adage goes, \"Life is like a box of chocolates.\" Benoni GenZ Juanne James discovered this truth at 21 when she found her calling in an unexpected way. While most people aim to find their path in life, James stumbled upon her calling through Lego, a classroom full of children, and the realization that she has a talent for helping others. She now works as an instructor at Young Engineers in Benoni, teaching children how things work by getting them to build mechanical models. Her classes include children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome, and behavioral challenges. Although the lessons introduce engineering principles, James believes the real reward lies in helping children discover their capabilities, even when faced with challenges. When asked about her motivation, James explained that she never intended to work with children with special needs. She simply found herself in that role and had to learn along the way. However, helping others always came naturally to her. She emphasized that seeing a child achieve something, despite their difficulties, is profoundly rewarding. James' teaching methods involve building various models, such as a washing machine or a crane, while teaching children about gears, transmissions, and mechanical movement. She believes that getting from a pile of bricks to a working model can be challenging, especially when a child struggles with concentration or frustration. To address this, James encourages children to think through problems rather than providing immediate answers. She stresses that learning to approach challenges and think critically is a skill they can apply to other aspects of their lives. Patience is crucial, as it may involve explaining the same instruction multiple times or finding alternative ways to explain a difficult concept. James also encourages teamwork and pairing children who wouldn't typically work together. This allows them to communicate, cooperate, and learn to accommodate each other's strengths. James' grandmother instilled in her the importance of helping others, and she believes her work with special needs children is a fulfillment of her calling.",
  "summary": "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get. Forrest Gump, aka Tom Hanks, squeezed...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}