Merafong Child and Youth Care Centre

There is a big need for more child and youth care centres in the Goldfields. At present the child and youth care centres of Winburg (Huis Smarag and Diamant), Theunissen (Thusano Child and Youth Care Centre), Riebeeckstad (Lizst Street 1 & 2), Virginia (Maanblom) and Welkom (Othello Street) provide care to 100 children.

Merafong means "Place of Gold". This is the name of a new child and youth care centre being developed by Free State Child and Youth Care Centres at 3 Kroghstreet, Seemeeu Park, Welkom. The property was made available by the "Getuieniskommissie" of the Dutch Reformed Church. At first this property was the parsonage of Dr Lourens Erasmus, the previous moderator of Dutch Reformed Church in the Free State. The minister of Merafong Wespark Dutch Reformed Church, rev. Pheko, is the chair person of the Management Committee. The vice-chair person is mr Thabo Letsoa.

This new centre provides care to 12 boys. At present the centre is in need of large plug equipment. The first children were admitted during the second term of 2010.

The surrounding community wanted to name the centre "Merafong", because they believe that the children of this centre will be the gold.

Enquiries in this regard: Principal Social Worker, ms Chirsta Maree, tel.: 057-352 9782.



WELKOM
A new child and youth care centre soon opened its doors in the city to provide in the growing need for safe housing for children in need.

Ms. Magda van Niekerk, director of Free State Youth Care Centres, said there was a long waiting list for children who need to be placed out in child and youth care centres.

The centres in Winburg (Huis Smarag and Huis Diamant), Theunissen (Thusano), Riebeeckstad (Liszstraat 1 and 2), Virginia (Maanblom) and in Welkom (Othellostreet) provide care to some 100 children.

"Children from the Goldfields sometimes need to be placed out to other districts because their circumstances are critic and they need protection."

To provide in this need, a new child and youth care centre in Hyslop Street, Welkom was developed. The property for the centre, Merafong, which means "place of gold" was supplied by the "Getuieniskommissie" of the Dutch Reformed Church.

The house was the parsonage of Rev. Lourens Erasmus, the former moderator of the Free State Dutch Reformed Church.

Merafong provides care to 12 boys.

The first six boys moved in in April 2010 and Mrs. Mamotseki Seleso was appointed as child and youth care worker.

The children's ages varies from birth to 12 years of age. As the children became older, they will remain in the centre and will not be placed out. "We found it easier to start with younger children."

Children still on the waiting list are temporary with family, foster parents or in place of safety.

Van Niekerk says it is very important that the children remain in contact with their family. "Every one of us needs acceptance. The children talk about it as "someone of their own".

This article appeared in Volksblad of March 11, 2009. This is the birth of Merafong Child and Youth Care Centre.

The "Getuieniskommissie" of the Dutch Reformed Church contacted Van Niekerk on 19 February 2008 with the possibility to establish a child and youth care centre in the former parsonage on the corner of Farrer and Hyslop Streets, Seemeeupark, Welkom.

The congregation of Merafong Wespark was visited on Sunday 16 March 2008. There are 16 members who undertake the responsibility for the project. The adjoining Dutch Reformed Churc of Welkom-Wes promised their support. The first meeting with the community was held on 17 November 2008.

The first management consists out of:

Chairperson:  Rev. TS Pheko
Chairperson Financial committee:  Mr Thabo Kabulu
Chairperson Child care committee:  Ms Cathrine Senatle
Mr Joseph Likontsane
Mr Thabo Letsora
Mr Lou Coertzer
Mr Bill Haylett
Ms Frederika Ntomba

There was decided to start the centre as a home for 12 Sotho speaking boys, because over the years there was a tendency in the Free State that more boys than girls became in need of care. The centre will be extended for girls as well when the funds became available.

Address:

PO Box 31032
Môreskof
9462

Personnel:

Child and Youth Care Worker: Melita Seleso, Tel.: 078 566 3352
Social worker: Monica Venter, Tel.: 079 499 4682
Principal social worker: Christa Maree, Tel.: 057-352 9782

Needs of the centre:

• Boys clothes 0 - 15 years
• School bags and school requirements
• Toys
• Sport equipment

Motto: "Our children are our gold"

Newsletter 2 - 2009:

Merafong lehae la bana

Ka la 17 November 2008 Mme Magda van Niekerk motsamaise wa mahae a bana o ile a etela tulo ena ya Welkom ho tla fana ka lesedi ka lehae la bana. Mme ka la 16 Hlakubele 2009 mamati a lehae lena la bana a bulwa. Hloho ya lehae lena ke mme Christa Maree, le bathusi mme Monica Venter le Anne-Rita van Heerden. Ha mohlokomedi wa bana e le mme Melita Seleso le bathusi mme Selina Sesele le mme Miriam Shopo.

Sepheo ka ho thehwa ha lehae lena la bana ke ho hlokomela bana ba hlokang batswadi le ba hlokang kgodiso e lokelang ya bana. Hape ke ho phetha taelo ya Morena Jesu - Matheu 18: 1 - 5 Ka nako eo barutuwa batla ho Jesu, bare ; E moholo Mmusong wa mahodimo ke mang? Jesu a bitsa ngwana, a mo emisa kapele ho bona, are; Ruri ke re ho lona, ha le sa fetohe la tshwana le bana, le ke ke la kena Mmusong wa mahodimo. Ka baka leo, ya ikokobetsang jwaleka ngwana enwa ke yena e moholo Mmusong wa mahodimo. Mang le mang ya amohelang ngwana ya jwaleka enwa lebitsong la ka, o a nkamohela.

Taba e thabisang ke hore lehae lena le tlong eo eleng ntlo ya seruti, moo ho neng ho dula Moruti Lourens Erasmus ya neng a thusa hoholo mosebetsing wa boromuwa hara batho ba batsho. Mme mongodi wa tsa boromuwa Moruti Gideon van der Wat yeo le yena a thusang haholo mosebetsing wa boromuwa hara batho ba batsho a etsa hore moaho ona o fetohe lehae la bana, jwalekaha Morena Jesu a itse - mafutsana le na le wona kamehla - Mareka 14:7.

Lehae lena le na le bodulo ba bana ba leshome le metso e mmedi ba bashemane. Badumedi le baahi le N.G. Welsyn ba thusitse ka dintho tse hlokahalang.

Moruti Pheko - Modula Stulo, Merafong