Esperanza Child and Youth Care Centre
The executive committee of the church counsel of the Dutch Reformed Church from Waterbon, under the leadership of Dr. Brand Doubell meets the director of the child and youth care centres on 4 December 2002. The congregation decided to take ownership of a youth care centre. NG Welfare purchased a plot at Scriven road, Hartbees for this purpose. President Steyn School is within walking distance from the centre. Mr. Douw Kriel takes the lead in alterations to the building to change it into a functional youth care centre. During 2005 the neighbouring congregation, Bainsvlei, joined the project.
Children in need of care
The centre is registered to accommodate 12 children. The centre admits both male and female children. The children speak English and Afrikaans. One child is studying Law.Services rendered by the youth care centre to the children of the youth care centre
The youth care centre make use of the services of a social worker. She has two therapeutic sessions with each child every quarter.
When a child is being admitted to the centre a multi therapeutic team meeting is held to draw up an Individual Developmental Plan and Care Plan for each child. This plan helps the persons involved with the child to know who will render which services to the child concerned. It also helps to co-ordinate the services.
The social worker and the child and youth care worker often have discussions about the child – in this way they work together as a team.
Annually a multi therapeutic team meeting is held to evaluate the achievements and to plan ahead.
The social worker co-ordinates the services and makes the necessary arrangements for the child to receive specialised therapy, for instance psychological, occupational, psychiatric, medical, neurological and spiritual.
The social workers also arrange for weekend and holiday leave to the child’s parents or host families.
The management and the child and youth care worker ensure that the child’s basic needs are met by making sure he/she has a safe house, food, clothes and education.
Services rendered by the youth care centre to the children of the community
The surplus vegetables, from the centre’s own garden, are given to underprivilege people.
The residents have “adopted” grandparents within the community. This fulfils the need of the children to belong to somebody, and helps the elderly with their loneliness. The children visit the grandparents. The grandparents tell the children of their own stories of their youth. Thus both parties needs are fulfilled.
The children also reach out to the children of "Die Huis van Omgee" and "Lerato Creche" in the Bainsvlei Community.
Outstanding trademarks of the centre
The centre is situated on a 4,28 hectare plot about 20 km from Bloemfontein. Our children see it as a privilege to live on the plot and to take care of the sheep and other animals as well as growing their own garden.
Al our children are in main stream education at Pres. Steyn High School. Our centre has had a head prefect, under head prefect and several prefects.
Ways how the community can get involved and can help the centre
- Donations in the form of food and financial help from the community are always very welcome and much appreciated.
- There is a great need for the following services:
- Chemist services
- Optometrist services
- Psychological services
- Psychiatric services
The centre can easily provide in the children's need of food because of donors like Gert and Fransiena Kruger and Mr. Theo Kruger.
MISSION
Waterbron Youth Care Centre exists in dependency of God and is managed as a house with Christian values as basis.
Therefor:
a. We recognise that God has placed us here, although we do not understand why it must be us.
b. We rely on Him to determine our future.
c. We live as hand picked children of God in a unique situation.
d. We are proud to be connected to Him.
e. We do our utmost best to live out our Christian values.
f. We know that our hope for the future, after the youth care centre is built on a solid foundation.
g. We must live as a unique family with love and respect for one another.
h. We are thankful to all people whom He uses to support us with love and material needs.
To God all the glory!
Postal address:
P.O. Box 17364
Bainsvlei
9338
E-mail address: douw.kriel@absamail.co.za
Telephone number: (051) 445 2522/445 2416
Fax number: (051) 445 2522
Cell phone number: 083 451 6978
Staff:
Child and youth care worker: Audrey Kriel
General assistant: Emily Moketsi
Management committee:
Rev. Frikkie van Niekerk (083 475 2380) – Chair person of the management board and the child and youth committee
Mrs. Charmaine Fourie (082 374 5101) – Vise chair person of the management board
Mrs. Santa Pretorius (073 3837 982) – Chair person of the financial committee
