Being able to go ‘home for the Holidays’ is something most of our children long for … and what we promote through our family reunification programme.

But many of these children come from underprivileged homes where the next meal isn’t always guaranteed.

That’s why we count on kind-hearted people like you to support our ‘Buckets of Love’ campaign. It’s about filling a plastic bucket with basic groceries to last through the festive season – so that no child has to go hungry during the holidays.

Please consider sponsoring or donating items like baked beans, tinned fish and vegetable curry, rice, maize meal, sugar, samp, porridge, tea, powdered milk, oil and peanut butter or jam.

Together, we can fill 40 buckets with love, hope and nutrition. Because no child should have to choose between food and family.

For more information please contact Nicolette on 031 201 1301 or email nicolette@dch.org.za.

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

As we enter the last quarter of this year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the power of generosity, and the lasting impact it has on the lives of the children and youth in our care.

Creating a safe, nurturing, and stable environment for our children and youth remains at the heart of everything we do. Recently, this commitment was significantly strengthened through a generous bequest from one of our individual donors, who had supported us for many years.

Her gift enabled us to complete the reinforcement and upgrading of retaining walls in and around our properties, which had been identified as potential safety risks. Now, our facilities provide a safer, more secure environment for all who live and work here.

We are also delighted with the development of a Calming Room in our teenage boys’ house. Thoughtfully designed by Interior Design students from Inscape College, the project was made possible through partnership funding from two corporate donors.

These improvements are a reminder that every contribution, whether large or small, helps create better opportunities and brighter futures for vulnerable children and youth.

I’m also pleased to share news of several meaningful initiatives and activities taking place across our Centre. These include our Christmas Shoebox Campaign, the Buckets of Love Campaign calling for food hamper donations to support children and their families during the December school holidays, and the celebration of our culture and diversity through a Heritage Day programme for our children on 24 September.

On behalf of our Board, staff, children and youth, I extend our sincere gratitude to all who support our mission. Your generosity enables us to continue providing care, protection and hope to children and youth who need it most.

Thank you for being part of our journey and for helping us build a stronger, safer future together.

On Heritage Day, 24 September, the Durban Child and Youth Care Centre came alive with colour, music and celebration.

Our young people were encouraged to wear traditional attire, speak about their cultures and enjoy traditional foods together.

The hall was filled with singing, dancing and stories about treasured traditions. More than a festive occasion, the event created an opportunity to celebrate cultural pride, deepen respect for diversity and strengthen unity and belonging within our Centre community.

It was a joyful and meaningful way to honour the rich heritage that connects us all.

We wish we could thank Mrs X personally for the thoughtful gesture that prompted her to name the Durban & Child Youth Care Centre as a beneficiary in her Will … and that she could see how her generosity has been put to work to make our Home safer and more welcoming.

Mrs X supported us for many years through regular donations. But it was her decision to leave a gift to our Home in her Will that has made the greatest impact – one she may never have imagined when she made that generous provision.

As you can imagine, maintaining a property that has been home to generations of children for more than a hundred years is a continual challenge. Over time, we had identified several areas that presented potential safety risks, and the funds received through Mrs X’s bequest enabled us to address them.

The work included stabilising retaining walls, repairing steps and strengthening fencing – improvements that have made the Home safer and more secure for both the children in our care and our staff.

We are deeply grateful for Mrs X’s generous bequest. Her thoughtful decision has had a very real and lasting impact, enabling us to undertake critical infrastructure upgrades that might otherwise have had to wait.

Most importantly, her legacy is helping us to continue providing a safe, nurturing and supportive environment for the children and young people entrusted to our care. It is a wonderful reminder that a gift in a Will can continue making a difference long into the future.

If you have left – or are considering leaving – a bequest to the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre, please let us know. We would love to be able to thank you, and perhaps plan together how you would like the money to be used.

If you have put off making a Will because you’re ‘too young’ or ‘have nothing to leave’, please resolve to get this important task completed now. The saying, “Leave a Will or leave a mess,” rings true.

For the sake of those you leave behind, speak to your bank, financial advisor or life insurance company about getting your Will drawn up. Or take advantage of Wills Week to have your Will drawn up by a qualified attorney at no charge.

Who doesn’t want to give a little joy and excitement to a child at Christmas time? Especially little ones growing up in a children’s home!

Filling a shoebox with ‘goodies’ for one of our children or teens is so easy to do – and brings so much pleasure. Can we count on you to join in?

Each child will appreciate:

• Personal hygiene items, e.g. a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and facecloth. You can also add other items like a hairbrush, body lotion and body spray.
• Clothing, e.g. a new T-shirt, pair of socks, pull-on leggings or shorts, or a cap.
• Stationery, e.g. notebooks, pens, pencils and colouring books. Older girls enjoy journals or a diary.
• Toys, e.g. a ball, puzzle or soft toy. Older kids like sunglasses, costume jewellery or an inexpensive watch.
• Sweet treats, e.g. lollipops, chocolate, chips or biscuits.
• Personalised note – please add a handwritten note or card to create a personal connection with the child who receives your gift.

Please don’t include perishable food, medicine, or items that could be considered inappropriate for children, e.g. toy weapons or fragile items.

For more information, please contact Nicolette Modicka on 031 201 1301 or email nicolette@dch.org.za.

Give yourself the joy of bringing smiles and hope to children in need this festive season!

Were you previously supporting the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre through the Woolworths MySchool rewards programme? We’d love to have you back!

With the MyDifference app taking its place, the transition has meant that we have lost a significant number of supporters. And so we’re asking our previous MySchool supporters to make the switch to MyDifference and select Durban Child & Youth Care Centre as their cause.

If you’re already a MyDifference member, please check that we are selected as your cause.

By choosing us as your chosen charity to support, you help us continue providing care, support and opportunities for children and young people who need it most.

Please make the switch today and keep making a difference in the lives of children who’ve been neglected, abandoned or abused in the past.