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 Kroghstraat 3, Seemeeupark, 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 Churches 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 will provide care to 12 boys. Later on it will be enlarged to accomodate girls as well. At present the centre is in need of furniture, a vehicle and other equipment. The first children will be admitted during the secord term.

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: Principle Social Worker, mrs Chirsta Maree, tel.: 057-352 9782.



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

Mrs. Magda van Niekerk, director of Free State Youth Care Centres, said there is a long waiting list for children who need to be placed out in child and youth care centres. "We will be able to fill 3 more houses within days."

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 Krogh Street, Welkom is been developed. The property for the centre, Merafong, which means "place of gold" is 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 will provide care to 12 boys. Later on it will be extended to accommodate girls as well. Van Niekerk says there is a big need for any kitchen ware, boy's clothes, shoes and school bags.

She says the first six boys move in in April and Mrs. Mamotseki Seleso is 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:

Rev. TS Pheko
Mr Thabo Kabulu
Ms Moipone Nthoba
Ms Cathrine Senatle
Ms Alina Lechaka
Mr Isaac Mokhaumathe
Mr Joseph Likontsane
Mr Lou Coertzer
Mr Bill Haylett
Mrs Gerda Haylett

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
Principle 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