Have you ever thought about the legacy you’ll leave behind?
For most of us, it’s not about wealth or possessions … it’s about love. The love we’ve given to our families, our friends, and – if we’re lucky – the difference we’ve made in the lives of others.
At the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre, we see every day how powerful love can be. It’s what turns frightened, withdrawn children into little ones who laugh, play and dream again. It’s what restores trust, hope and confidence in young lives broken by neglect and abuse.
Sipho knows this better than most. When he was just a baby, he lost his mother, and later his father turned to drinking, leaving him and his siblings neglected. Social services brought them to the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre – and that’s when his life began to change.
“I used to be a naughty kid while living here,” Sipho admits, “but the constant love, the constant care, the constant kindness we were shown, and the opportunities we were exposed to, have led me to become the person I am today.”
Today, Sipho is 24 years old, studying for a B.Com in Strategic Brand Management. He is creative, ambitious, and filled with gratitude for the opportunities and encouragement that shaped his journey. “My time at the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre has been the highlight of my life so far,” he says. “Thank you for never giving up on us.”
Sipho’s success is a living example of the kind of legacy you can leave behind.
During National Wills Week (9–13 September), please consider leaving a gift in your Will to the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre.
Wills Week is a nationwide initiative where participating attorneys draw up basic Wills free of charge. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make sure your affairs are in order — and at the same time, to think about the causes and people that matter most to you.
Even a small bequest to the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre in your will becomes part of something much bigger – the daily meals, warm beds, school uniforms, counselling and opportunities for growth that children here so desperately need.
Your legacy will mean that, long after you’ve gone, children who’ve been abandoned or orphaned will still have a safe place to call home. They’ll still be surrounded by care, encouragement and the chance of a brighter future … just like Sipho was.
If you haven’t yet made a Will, this is the perfect week to do it. And if you already have, you can easily add the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre to it with a simple amendment.
It’s one of the most meaningful gifts you’ll ever give … because long after the possessions of this life are gone, love remains.

children deserve to be safe & happy

In a perfect world, every child would grow up in a loving home – with enough food, clothing and opportunities to play and learn.
But it’s not a perfect world.
The Durban Child & Youth Care Centre strives to give children who’ve been orphaned, abandoned, neglected or abused, another chance of a happy childhood. We provide a safe home, all the daily necessities, education and encouragement to help them develop into healthy, well-adjusted kids.
Wherever possible, we work with the family to enable children to return home. Because every child needs a place to belong.
WATCH OUR VIDEO TO FIND OUT MORE
SOUTH AFRICA’S CHILDREN ARE HURTING

In mid 2018, South Africa was home to 19.7 million children under the age of 18
Of these:
million orphans
million dependent on grants
thousand live in
child only households
%
live below
the poverty line
HOW WE HELP

OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
Up to 60 boys and girls, between the ages of 2-18, live in three units. They attend local schools and receive counseling, remedial teaching, therapy and other activities designed to encourage them to develop skills, talents and confidence.
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
This is a home for 14 children suffering from chronic life threatening illnesses (mainly HIV) and disabilities. We focus on their emotional, spiritual and medical care. Wherever possible, families are encouraged to be involved.
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Professional support to other child & youth care centres, the National Association of Child Care Workers, Regional Youth Forum, etc.
OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
Up to 60 boys and girls, between the ages of 2-18, live in three units. They attend local schools and receive counseling, remedial teaching, therapy and other activities designed to encourage them to develop skills, talents and confidence.
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
This is a home for 14 children suffering from chronic life threatening illnesses (mainly HIV) and disabilities. We focus on their emotional, spiritual and medical care. Wherever possible, families are encouraged to be involved.
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Professional support to other child & youth care centres, the National Association of Child Care Workers, Regional Youth Forum, etc.
Play your part
Although we receive a government subsidy for each child, this is nowhere near the real cost of caring.
Your donation helps provide food, shelter, education, medical care and the therapeutic programmes
these children need to overcome their unhappy past and develop into confident, happy young people.

Gifts in Kind
We appreciate donations of non-perishable food items, clothing and toiletries. Please contact us for a list of our most pressing needs.
Get a MySchool Card
Choose the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre as the beneficiary of your MySchool card and help raise funds every time you swipe the card.
Volunteer
Helping with homework, mentoring older children and sewing clothes are just some of the ways you can make a difference.
Maintenance
Provide a regular monthly service like removal of garden refuse, or general maintenance like replacing light bulbs and tap washers.
Fundraise for us
Run a marathon and ask your friends to sponsor you … or ask for donations to DCYCC in lieu of birthday or Christmas gifts.
Set up a monthly payment
Even small donations – made regularly every month by debit order or recurring EFT – add up to a whole lot of help.
Leave a bequest
One sentence in your will could make a lasting impact on a child’s life – and costs you nothing right now!
Sponsor a child
Contribute towards the cost of caring for one child, with a regular monthly donation towards food, clothing, education and medical bills.


Buckets of love – school holiday hamper campaign
As part of our family reunification efforts, most of our children go home for school holidays. But food is not always plentiful back home. And this is even more serious for those kids on life-saving medication like Antiretrovirals, that need to be taken with meals....
Lenovo Friendship Day
We were excited to be chosen as beneficiaries of Lenovo's “Global Month of Service" (GMOS). During the month, employees of the company around the world are encouraged to participate in activities to uplift their communities, uniting as a global force for social...
Message from the Director – Mandy Goble
And in a heartbeat, our 120 year celebratory gala event is now recorded in the history book of this special organisation. The evening certainly lived up to the hype. Board members, past residents, special guests, donors and new friends arrived in all their...
Instilling pride in kids’ traditions and culture
On Heritage Day, 24 September we celebrated the cultural wealth of our nation ... and also the many different cultures represented within our organisation! Heritage Day is really special at the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre. Our children enjoyed every moment of...
120th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Dinner – a truly special and memorable event.
What an epic night of celebrations we enjoyed to mark the 120th anniversary of the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre! Our Fundraising Gala Dinner, sponsored by Standard Bank, was a truly special and memorable event. Thank you to our vibrant and funny MC, Darren...
A tribute to our Organisation by a Child & Youth Care Worker
“In Circles and Systems, We Grew” By Thabiso Kunene In the heart of care, where small hands grow, You held the space where courage flows. Belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. The Circle of Courage you lived it with tenacity. To the childcare team, with...