2025 is a year that marks 120 years of our existence as a place that provides children with a caring home. We acknowledge the importance of the support received from our community of friends and donors who from the very beginning and through the decades have contributed towards this achievement. During a recent interview with a journalist from the Berea Mail, I was asked to share what stood out as a highlight my 35years of service at the Organisation. Recognising that this represents just a little over a quarter of the existence of the Organisation reminded me that anything achieved thus far has only been possible because of the foundations laid during the early years and the subsequent sound leadership of the various people who had dedicated their time, expertise and funds to the running of the Organisation throughout the years. The history of this Organisation is peppered with times of transition and change, and so it comes as no surprise that my response was specifically related to the transition and changes that emanated from the dawning of democracy in our country.
Amidst the onslaught of changes to policy, new information on child care practice, opportunities for transformational training, piloting new models, challenging the way we did things with the way we should be doing things, and advancing child and youth care as a profession, was the sense that we were living in a historical moment. There was an excitement, an energy, a vibrancy that birthed a courage which saw us believe that we could reinvent our services and through so doing ensure that those receiving them would find healing from their trauma, be inspired to envisage dreams and hold on with hope for the fulfilment of their future.
As with the decades before, we worked hard to survive this uncertain time and with the support of our donors, are proud of the success, victory and even respect within our field that has been achieved. Change can be daunting; however, it is a reality of life that cannot be ignored. When embraced with bravery and determination it can lead to new beginnings. The transforming of services from providing traditional custodial care for children to focussing on Family Reunification is without a doubt the most rewarding of the changes we introduced. Children have the right to grow within family and whilst we will continue to work to that end, for the time that they must remain in our care, we are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that DCYCC is their home.
We trust God’s plan for our organisation and having experienced His unfailing favour in the face of past, present and no doubt future challenges, we are certain that our faith in His perfect wisdom and timing will see this Organisation through for many decades to come.