Ringer Street Child and Youth Care Centre
The Ringerstraat Youth Care Centre is a community project and role players of the community are involved. Me. Cecile Krause initiated the centre while she was helping at a soup kitchen of the Dutch Reformed Church. Mrs. Magda van Niekerk, Director of the Child and Youth Care Centres, held the first community meeting on 20 January 2004. Mr. Christo Krause was elected as the first chairman.NG Welfare bought the property on the corner of Ringer- and Church Street. Simply a few alterations were necessary to transform this house in a centre for 12 children.
The Ringerstraat Youth Care Centre opened on the 10th of January 2005.Children
The centre can accommodate 12 children from toddlers to teenagers and the children are from various cultural groups.
Services
- The management and the child care worker ensure that the child’s basic needs are met by making sure he/she has a safe house, food, clothes and education.
The centre make use of the services of a social worker who has therapeutic sessions with the children and compiles an Individual Developmental Plan and Care Plan for each child.- Annually a multi therapeutic team meeting is held to evaluate the achievements and to plan ahead for every child.
- The social worker also make arrangements for the children to visit their parents or holiday parents during weekends or holidays.
- The social worker co-ordinates the services and makes the necessary arrangements for specialised therapy, for instance psychological, occupational, etc.
- There are 2 dogs and the children are taught how to take care of their pets.
- We also teach them life-skills like cleaning their own rooms, how to lay a table, dishwashing and skills like respect and how to make choices.
Education
The Afrikaans speaking children are learners at Heilbron High School. Some of them participate in sport like rugby, netball, hockey, athletics and karate. Three of the leaners go to study class after school at School of Destiny. One Sotho speaking child attends Boitomelong Primary School.
Religion
On Sundays all the children attend the services of the Dutch Reformed Church, Heilbron and also go to Sunday school. There is time for personal devotion and they pray and sing together at the centre. They also participate in the youth actions of the church.
Characteristics
There is a big yard where the children can run and play.
The local newspaper, The Harold, motivates the community for help and report needs.
The management of the centre is actively involved and motivates the community to donate clothes, food and other services to the centre. A function was held at the centre during March 2010 to thank all the donors and sponsors for their contributions made towards the centre.The recreation committee makes arrangements for the children to visit farms in the district and also expose the children to new experiences regularly.
Needs
- We will appreciate weekend / holiday parents for the children who do not have opportunity to visit someone during the holidays.
- We need help with the homework of the primary school children.
Motivation to get involved
- If you choose to get involved at the youth care centre you will experience the blessing of thankful and happy children faces.
- You will have the privilege to make a difference in the life of a child.
Name:
Ringerstraat Youth Care Centre
Postal address:
P.O. Box 5
HEILBRON
9650
Street address:
40 Ringer street
Heilbron
Phone/Fax no: 058 – 852 1666
Social Worker phone/fax: 058 – 852 1666
Staff
Childcare Worker : Annette Botha - tel.: 072 876 6676
Assistant : Me. Martha Lottering
Social Worker : Antionette Bosman - tel.: 082 449 0108
Management
Chairman : Rev. Braam van Zyl
Secretary of Management Commitee: Me. Marina van Deventer
Chairperson of Finances: Mr. Cas van Zyl
Chairperson of Child Care Committee: Me. Marina van Deventer
Secretary of Child Care Committee: Me. Antoinette Bosman
Newsletter 4 - 2009:
Thanks, Tannie for everything! For your love. You have respect people like me and I will always respect people like you. Thanks for fighting for my right to go to school. That is the most respectful thing that I like when it comes to you're fighting for you're children's rights. The most important that I ever like is that you are taking care of my brothers and sisters. You are more than a Tannie to me. You are my mother. You are my hero. You are my friend. And I have all the rights to love you. You have the right to safety and security. You are my everything that I live for. Do you know what? God loves you no matter what the people say. I love you, we love you. You now have 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12 kids - isn't it nice? I love you, Mother!
Letter from a 17 year old boy in Ringer Street Child and Youth Care Centre to his Child Care Worker.
