Did you know that Child and Youth Care Centres are amongst the most highly regulated services in South Africa? The Children’s Act has an entire chapter dedicated to the establishment and operating requirements of registered Centres, along with a very long list of Norms and Standards that must be complied with. Centres such as ours are regularly monitored and evaluated by The Department of Social Development to ensure compliance.
Even if this was not the case, the protection, safety and treatment of children placed in our care on court orders remains our top priority. At DCYCC we are committed to keeping the child at the centre of every decision taken regarding their care and welfare. Their needs are our main concern. And those needs are many.
Plenty of nutritious food … clothing and shoes, including school uniforms, books and stationery … safe transport to and from school … medical and dental attention … and therapy to help children recover from past abuse or trauma.
But, on top of the day-to-day needs, we have to provide safe and comfortable shelter.
Right now, we are embarking on extensive renovations to our SAWAS House, which is ‘home’ to 20 adolescent boys. Owing to the age of the house, a great deal needs to be done to restore it to a warm and welcoming place where these youngsters can thrive. It’s a massive undertaking and will remain at the centre of our fundraising efforts for the rest of the year.
Despite the sheer size of the project, we are confident that success is on the horizon. We are moving forward in faith and hope, and I look forward to being able to report back on the successful completion of the project in due course.