This note, written by 11-year-old Andy, breaks our hearts
It’s a desperate plea for love and acceptance. And we know it won’t be answered.
Andy and his older brother Tim so badly want to be part of a family. They were only four and five years old respectively when their father died and their mother abandoned them.
At first, they went to live with their great aunt, who was already caring for their older sister. But the old lady couldn’t cope with the boys. Especially Tim, who has ADHD. He was always in trouble at school, hanging out with much older children and getting up to all sorts of mischief.
So, the boys were placed in our care. And we began the process of working with other family members who might be willing to take them on.
Over the years, they have had contact with their step sister, great aunt and aunt. But each time a family member takes them ‘home’ for a weekend or over the holidays, the boys are brought back early because of their disruptive behaviour.
And each time they return to our Centre, Andy and Tim feel more devastated and rejected.
We believe that whenever a family member shows interest in them, Tim deliberately acts up to ‘test’ them. He feels that if they really love him, they will put up with his behaviour.
But the sad reality is that these families have problems of their own, and can’t provide the attention and support the boys need. So for now, Tim and Andy will remain in our care.
It’s up to us to provide the love and acceptance they crave, so they can develop into secure, confident and happy young people. And we need your help, please.
Please consider supporting us with a monthly donation to Sponsor a Child.
Your contribution of R1 245 pays for food for a month for one child. R550 covers school fees, sports equipment and transport, while R250 helps towards clothing and trips to the doctor or dentist. Smaller gifts are also received with great gratitude; they help pay for items like soap, toothpaste and shoe polish, which are always needed.
Every cent we receive is precious. Added together, these contributions make all the difference to a neglected, abused or abandoned child’s future. So please, will you join in and make your donation now?
children deserve to be safe & happy
But it’s not a perfect world.
The Durban Child & Youth Care Centre strives to give children who’ve been orphaned, abandoned, neglected or abused, another chance of a happy childhood. We provide a safe home, all the daily necessities, education and encouragement to help them develop into healthy, well-adjusted kids.
Wherever possible, we work with the family to enable children to return home. Because every child needs a place to belong.
WATCH OUR VIDEO TO FIND OUT MORE
SOUTH AFRICA’S CHILDREN ARE HURTING
In mid 2018, South Africa was home to 19.7 million children under the age of 18
Of these:
million orphans
million dependent on grants
thousand live in
child only households
%
live below
the poverty line
HOW WE HELP
OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
Up to 60 boys and girls, between the ages of 2-18, live in three units. They attend local schools and receive counseling, remedial teaching, therapy and other activities designed to encourage them to develop skills, talents and confidence.
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
This is a home for 14 children suffering from chronic life threatening illnesses (mainly HIV) and disabilities. We focus on their emotional, spiritual and medical care. Wherever possible, families are encouraged to be involved.
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Professional support to other child & youth care centres, the National Association of Child Care Workers, Regional Youth Forum, etc.
OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
OUR PROGRAMMES
RESIDENTIAL CARE
Up to 60 boys and girls, between the ages of 2-18, live in three units. They attend local schools and receive counseling, remedial teaching, therapy and other activities designed to encourage them to develop skills, talents and confidence.
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
OUR PROGRAMMES
AMAQHAWE CENTRE
This is a home for 14 children suffering from chronic life threatening illnesses (mainly HIV) and disabilities. We focus on their emotional, spiritual and medical care. Wherever possible, families are encouraged to be involved.
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OUR PROGRAMMES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Professional support to other child & youth care centres, the National Association of Child Care Workers, Regional Youth Forum, etc.
Play your part
Although we receive a government subsidy for each child, this is nowhere near the real cost of caring.
Your donation helps provide food, shelter, education, medical care and the therapeutic programmes
these children need to overcome their unhappy past and develop into confident, happy young people.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Gifts in Kind
We appreciate donations of non-perishable food items, clothing and toiletries. Please contact us for a list of our most pressing needs.
Get a MySchool Card
Choose the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre as the beneficiary of your MySchool card and help raise funds every time you swipe the card.
Volunteer
Helping with homework, mentoring older children and sewing clothes are just some of the ways you can make a difference.
Maintenance
Provide a regular monthly service like removal of garden refuse, or general maintenance like replacing light bulbs and tap washers.
Fundraise for us
Run a marathon and ask your friends to sponsor you … or ask for donations to DCYCC in lieu of birthday or Christmas gifts.
Set up a monthly payment
Even small donations – made regularly every month by debit order or recurring EFT – add up to a whole lot of help.
Leave a bequest
One sentence in your will could make a lasting impact on a child’s life – and costs you nothing right now!
Sponsor a child
Contribute towards the cost of caring for one child, with a regular monthly donation towards food, clothing, education and medical bills.
What’s happening at our Home
Freedom, a word used liberally in our country…
Freedom, a word used liberally in our country, but do we experience ‘freedom’? The Oxford dictionary defines freedom as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants. As we draw close to another of our public holidays, ‘Freedom Day’ to be precise…one cannot...
Inspiring healing, hope and happiness since 1905
The history of the Durban Child and Youth Care Centre goes back to an informal meeting of 5 people who identified the need for a crèche for vulnerable little children in the Durban vicinity. The Durban Crèche and Children’s Home, as it was named, began to operate out...
Goodbye soil erosion – hello beautiful new gardens
Once upon a time (35 years ago to be exact), our buildings stood amid extensive, lush, green lawns. The sprinklers ran at least three times a week – more often in winter. But, as the cost of water rose, we had to cut down more and more, until we were dependent solely...
Message from the Director
This year marks the 120th anniversary of the founding of our organisation. Based on Wikipedia’s estimate that the average generation spans 20-30 years, we can proudly boast that the Durban Child and Youth Care Centre has provided a safe and nurturing home environment...
Before and after – SAWAS House Phase II renovations complete
Paint peeling off the walls, damp stains on the ceilings and carpets that had seen much better days. This is how the upstairs bedrooms and passages of SAWAS House used to look. But, thanks to Ironman for the Kids and the Victor Daitz Foundation, this section of SAWAS...
Back to school with a smile – thanks to you
School bags, lunchboxes, books, stationery, school uniforms, shoes and more! Thank you so much to everyone who got behind our Back-to-School call to action, helping to make sure that every one of our children had everything they need to learn, grow and excel at school...
Get to know us better
Join our mailing list for regular updates on the children