Presidentia Child and Youth Care Centre

On the 20th of July 2004 people from the Dutch Reformed Church in Kroonstad gathered together to look at the possibility to open a child and youth care centre in town. During the meeting they took note of the following:

1) there are more than 50 children from Kroonstad in the children’s homes in Bethlehem and Bloemfontein;

2) that a process of decentralisation and transformation of the children’s homes to smaller child and youth care centres had already started.

The churches decided to take responsibility for a child and youth care centre in Kroonstad. We found a suitable house in 89 Marais Street in Presidentia. NG Welfare bought the house from Mr. Spahmer. We did some alterations according to our needs. The first chairman was Rev Barry Fourie and the Vise Chairman Mr. Christo Barnard. Mr. Wynand Smit was the chairman of Finances and Mrs. Gerda Barnard for Child Care. On the 17th of August 2005 we applied for registration in terms of sec 30 of the Child Care Act.

Children

The centre accommodates 12 children - 6 boys and 6 girls. Children come from various cultural groups and their ages differ from seven years of age to teenagers.

Services rendered

The management and the child care worker ensure that the child’s basic needs are met by making sure that he/she has a safe house, food, clothes and education.
The youth care centre make use of the services of a social worker.
Every child has an individual care plan and the multi therapeutic team evaluates the achievements annually.
We teach them various life-skills: hard skills like cleaning their own rooms and help to lay a table and washing dishes.
Soft skills like teaching them respect, how to make choices, decision-making, how to handle relationships etc.
The social worker also arranges for weekend and holiday leave to the child’s parents or host families.
The social worker and the child care worker often have discussions about a child – in this way they work together as a team.

Schools

The kids in primary school attend the Kroonheuwel Primary School not far from the centre. Two of our children were library prefects. One of our daughters played basketball for the Free State team and also received a silver medal for her oratorical talent. Our children participate in sports like athletics, rugby and netball or cultural activities like singing in the choir, speech and drama.

Two of our children attend the Kroonstad High School. They play netball and rugby and attended the Grade 8 – camp in the beginning of the year.

Religion

All our children attend the Dutch Reformed Church Kroonheuwel. They go to church every Sunday morning and attend Sunday school. They love to go to the “Cool Cats” - a youth group every Sunday afternoon. Religion is a high priority at the centre and every child has his/her own Bible and there is time for devotion.

Outstanding trademarks of the centre

The centre involves the community. We receive donations like equipment, clothes and groceries from the community.
A local hairdresser cuts the girls hair for free.
Once a term, one of the restaurants in town invites them for a free meal.

Needs

A donor for the monthly fee for speech and drama classes of one girl.
Literacy material like books and magazines.
Sponsor a child’s therapy at a professional therapist like a psychologist, occupational- and speech therapist etc.
Somebody who can help with extra mathematic classes.

Motivation to get involved

Many people say that there is more meaning in being able to give than being able to receive. It is when you give of yourself that you really give!

I HAVE ONE LIFE AND ONE CHANCE TO MAKE IT COUNT FOR SOMETHING! - Jimmy Carter

Postal address :

P.O. Box 6061
KROONHEUWEL
KROONSTAD
9500

Street address :

89 Maraisstraat
Presidentia
Kroonstad

Telephone no : 056 – 213 4112
Social Workers Office: Telephone no: 056 – 213 4208
Fax no: 056 - 213 4209
E-mail: presjss@compuking.co.za

Staff Members

Child Care Worker: Mr. Riaan Bester
Relief CCW: Mrs. Bester
Assistant: Me. Janette Majavu
Laundry assistant: Me. Cicilia Bochedi
Social Worker: Me. E. Vergottini

Management

Chairman: Mr. Wynand Smith
V/Chairman: Mr. Neels Dykman
Finance: Mr. Johnny Reinders
Childcare: Mr. Christo van der Westhuizen
Buildings: Mr. Thinus Jordaan
Secretary: Me. Anna Mulder