“If our youth are tomorrow’s leaders, what is the hope we give them today?”

Having participated in Child Protection Week between the 29 May and 5 June, and now preparing for Youth Day on the 16 June, the significance of the month of June in our country is elevated. This is a time to reflect on our shared responsibility to protect, nurture, and empower the children and young people who will shape the future of our country; your children, my children and our children, those who are in need of care and protection.

During Child Protection Week, we were reminded that creating safe and supportive environments for children is a shared responsibility. Through various awareness programmes and activities, our children and staff engaged in meaningful discussions around children’s rights, personal safety, and wellbeing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that every child in our care feels valued, protected, and heard.

Youth Month also provides an opportunity to celebrate the courage, resilience, and potential of young people. Inspired by the legacy of the youth of 1976, we are reminded of the importance of investing in the next generation through education, life skills developmment, and opportunities that allow them to realise their full potential. At Durban Child and Youth Care Centre, we are privileged to witness the determination and growth of the young people in our care as they work towards building brighter futures for themselves.

As we move into the second half of the year, I would like to thank our staff, donors, volunteers, and supporters for your continued commitment to our mission. Your generosity and dedication make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and youth we serve.

Together, we continue to create opportunities, inspire hope, and build a future where every child and young person can thrive.

As the Term 2 school holidays approach, we are once again calling on our community to help ensure that no child in our care goes hungry while spending time with their families.

Our annual Buckets of Love Campaign provides essential food hampers to children returning home during the school holidays as part of our family reunification programme. While these visits are an important opportunity to strengthen family bonds, many of the households our children return to face significant financial hardship and food insecurity.

For some of our children, access to regular meals is not only important for their well-being but also essential for taking life-saving medication, including Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. A lack of food can have serious consequences for their health and development.

This is why we are appealing to schools, religious groups, businesses, and caring individuals to partner with us in making a difference.

We aim to provide 40 Buckets of Love for the upcoming school holidays. Each bucket contains non-perishable food items that will help support children and their families during this period.

Items needed include:

• Baked beans
• Tinned fish
• Vegetable curry
• 5kg rice
• 2kg maize meal
• 2kg sugar
• 2kg samp
• Morvite Instant Porridge or Jungle Oats
• Tea
• Powdered milk
• 2-litre cooking oil
• Peanut butter
• Jam

Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps us fill a bucket with nourishment, hope, and care.

You can support the campaign by donating food items or making a financial contribution towards the purchase of hampers.

Banking Details

• Standard Bank
• Account Number: 051220385
• Branch Code: 042526
• Reference: BOL + Your Name

By supporting the Buckets of Love Campaign, you are helping to ensure that children can enjoy the comfort of being with their families during the holidays without worrying about where their next meal will come from.

Together, we can make a difference — one bucket at a time.

For more information, please contact:

• Tel: 031 201 1301
• Email: nicolette@dch.org.za

Your kindness can help fill more than a bucket. It can fill a child’s holiday with hope.

Every year, Mandela Day inspires people across South Africa and around the world to make a positive impact through acts of service, generosity, and compassion. It is an opportunity to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela by helping to create meaningful change in the lives of others.

This year, Mandela Day falls during the school holidays, a time when some of the children in our care will have the opportunity to spend time with their families as part of our family reunification programme. As a result, not all children will be at the Centre, and we may unfortunately be unable to accommodate all requests for volunteer visits and Mandela Day activities.

We therefore ask individuals, schools, businesses, churches, and community groups to support our Mandela Day Wishlist instead. By donating much-needed items, you can make a lasting contribution to the well-being of the children and youth in our care and help us continue providing a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment.

Wishlist items can be dropped off at our reception during office hours, Monday to Friday.

Click here to view our Mandela Day Wishlist.

Child Protection Week serves as an important reminder that every child has the right to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. It also highlights the shared responsibility of families, communities, organisations, and individuals in protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm.

Here at the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre, Child Protection Week was marked through a series of awareness and educational programmes designed to empower both children and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to promote safety and well-being.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in discussions and activities focused on children’s rights, personal safety, healthy relationships, and the importance of speaking up when they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. These sessions provided valuable opportunities for learning, reflection, and open dialogue, helping to strengthen awareness around child protection issues.

Creating a safe environment where children feel heard, respected, and protected remains at the heart of our work. By equipping children with knowledge about their rights and encouraging trusted communication, we help build confidence and resilience that can serve them throughout their lives.

Child Protection Week may be observed annually, but protecting children is a commitment that extends far beyond a single week. We remain dedicated to ensuring that every child in our care has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe and loving environment.

Together, we can make child protection everyone’s responsibility.