Jan 20, 2026 | News
For many of us, the dawning of a new year is time for a fresh start, an opportunity for new beginnings, banishing unhealthy habits, and setting new goals.
Here at the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre, as we enthusiastically set our organisational and personal goals for 2026 and our child care team facilitates a variety of goal setting activities with our children, there is an almost tangible static in the air, a positive, vibrant energy!
As I listened to the excited chatter of children returning from their first day at school, l resolved to hold onto that good energy. Despite the certain financial difficulties … the desperate plight of broken families … and the aching hearts of hurt and neglected children – I will strive to maintain a positive attitude and remain in good spirits, ensuring that this home radiates warmth and hope. And that each of the children in our care feels safe, feels seen, feels heard, and feels their heart expand as they receive our care.
Wishing you, our family of supporters, a positive and joyful 2026.
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Jan 20, 2026 | News
Five girls from the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre recently had an amazing opportunity … to participate in RoboGirl 2025. An initiative by the Departments of Information Technology and Electronic Engineering at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), in collaboration with Lenovo Southern Africa, Toyota South Africa, and the Moses Kotane Research Institute, RoboGirl is aimed at empowering young women in technology and innovation.
The initiative – which took place from 1-5 December 2025 – brought together 80 learners from 16 schools in and around Durban. Each selected five talented girls from Grades 9, 10 & 11 to participate in the five-day training and skills development programme. This year’s theme was drone technology, exposing participants to cutting-edge concepts and practical applications in this exciting field.
It was an unforgettable week of learning, creativity, and competition for our girls, and we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to DUT and Lenovo for giving them this incredible opportunity.
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Jan 20, 2026 | News
As you can imagine, providing three meals a day to a ‘family’ of 70 children generates large quantities of kitchen waste – from eggshells and used teabags to vegetable peelings.
So we didn’t hesitate when we were invited to participate in a research project aimed at converting kitchen food waste to compost, specifically for residential care facilities. Led by Dr Sasi Gangiah, a lecturer in Management Sciences (Hospitality and Tourism) at the Durban University of Technology, the project aims to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 12 – to reduce global food waste per person by half by 2030, whilst producing compost for food gardens.
One of our cooks, Jabu Malinga, together with our gardeners, has taken responsibility for the project. Over the past few months, they have worked tirelessly to lay the foundation for its success. We look forward to giving you an update on our progress towards more sustainable waste management in due course.
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Jan 15, 2026 | News
Towards the end of last year, we shared Luca’s story with you. He and his sister were among the children who couldn’t go home for the holidays, and we wanted to make Christmas special for them.
We told you how he had blossomed in the four years since he was placed with us. But we never expected a school report like this! 100% for English in the end of year exams! 98% for science and technology and 80% for maths. The class average for these subjects was 64%, 62% and 58% respectively.
This is a child who was so neglected – physically and emotionally – that the courts removed him from his mother’s care. Yet, despite all the hardship and heartache, this young boy is doing so well! Not only at school, but as a pleasant, respectful member of our ‘family’ of boys and girls here at the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre.
We hope you share our pride in his achievements – because it’s your support that makes it possible for us to give children like this a place where they can belong, unconditional love, support and encouragement. Thank you for being part of Luca’s journey to a bright new future.
As we start the new school year, we are deeply grateful to our generous donors and partners who have helped prepare our children for a successful return to school. Through donations of cash or in kind, our children have most of the essentials – school uniforms, school shoes, stationery, bags and lunch boxes. But we have 10 new placements still underway, and these children will need help with their school uniforms, school bags and stationery.
If you’d like to help again now, please click here to donate online. Your donation towards back-to-school essentials will be greatly appreciated.
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Jan 15, 2026 | News
Grateful thanks to Faith Revival Church in Phoenix for spoiling our children with these brightly wrapped gifts.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! We were overwhelmed by your generosity and kindness towards our children over the festive season. You truly made it the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ for the little ones.
Organisations, businesses, churches and individuals responded with heartwarming generosity – both in cash and in kind – to give our children the most joyful and meaningful Christmas. In particular, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Faith Revival Church Phoenix for their generous donation of gifts, and to Legal Aid SA (pictured below) for hosting a special toy drive that brought excitement and smiles to so many young faces.
Our sincere thanks also go to Grand Royal Gold for donating essential items such as underwear and stationery, and to Harcourts for their generous contribution of school shoes, so all our children could start the new school year with confidence.
Christmas ‘Angels’
We are deeply grateful to Upway Trading for their contribution towards festive meals and gifts for our teenagers, as well as SST Logistics for their support towards Christmas meals. In addition to these named partners, we would like to warmly acknowledge the many other donors who contributed in cash or kind. Every gift – no matter the size – played an important role in making this festive season brighter and more hopeful. Your generosity ensured that no child was forgotten and that every young person felt valued and cared for. To all our Christmas ‘Angels’ – thank you for opening your hearts and hands. Your compassion has left a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for your continued support.
Laughter treats and special moments
Our children also enjoyed several joyful Christmas celebrations filled with laughter, treats, and special moments. They enjoyed their very own Christmas party, made possible through the generosity of aQuelle, who provided festive-flavoured sparkling water, HR Pinnacle, who sponsored meals, refreshments, and party packs, and our wonderful donors, whose contributions ensured every child received a gift.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Rivers Foundation for hosting a beautiful Christmas party for our children, and to the Hollywood Foundation, in partnership with Toy Expro and the Rotary Club of Umhlanga, for treating our little ones to a delightful festive celebration. We are sincerely grateful to all our partners and donors for helping make this Christmas a joyful and memorable time for our children.
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Nov 17, 2025 | News
Every child deserves to grow up in the safety and warmth of a loving home. Yet for many children, life takes a different path—one that leads them to Child and Youth Care Centre’s such as ours. At Durban Child and Youth Care Centre (DCYCC), we believe in the importance of family. Families are meant to provide emotional care, nurture a sense of belonging and identity, encourage learning, support growth, and help build social connections for children. Because of this Family Preservation remains a top priority for our organisation, and that’s why whenever it is safe, we do everything in our power to help children return to their families.
During their time with us, our child and youth care team works closely with the children as well as with their families. Through our Parental Support programme, we work with parents through their challenges, help them see what needs to change, and support them as they take positive steps forward to make their home a safe space once more. Every year, we have the opportunity to witness some of these beautiful transformations take place. These precious achievements remind us why we do this work and motivate us to keep going.
The success of family reunification is made possible only through the passion and dedication of our child and youth care team, our social workers and child and youth care workers, along with the support of many key players in the Child Care Sector. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Department of Social Development and the Child Welfare Agencies who walk this journey with us. This joint commitment helps us change lives!
As the holiday season approaches, emotions in our Centre run deep. For some children, there is excitement as they prepare to return home whilst others are left with disappointment and longing because they have no one or nowhere to go to.
The following our examples of some of the things our child care team do to help our children cope during this emotional time:
- Listen actively; focussing on the child and calmy listening without judgment when they want to talk.
- Validate their feelings; by letting them know that their emotions are real and valid.
- Maintain stability; by sticking to the set routines children continue to feel safe when expressing deep feelings.
- Teach coping skills; by helping them pause, breathe, identify and name what they are feeling.
- Use distraction techniques; when necessary, encourage activities that take their mind off the upsetting thoughts for short periods.
- Encourage physical activity, since physical activity can be a healthy way to release stress.
- Encourage creative outlets; by suggesting expression journaling, writing stories, drawing, dancing, or listening to music.
Most importantly is letting our children know that when their feelings threaten to overwhelm them, we are there right beside them; to hold them, talk with them, and walk it through with them.
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