Viljoenskroon Child and Youth Care Centre
A meeting was called with the community of Viljoenskroon on the 20th September 2001 to discuss the need of a child and youth care centre in town. Me. Lizanne Wilken, the social worker at KMD and previously from Winburg Youth Care Centre arranged the meeting. On 23 October 2001 the first such meeting was held. Decentralisation caused the need for the centre and the home of widow Crous was purchased by NG Welfare at 49 Piet Retief Street, as it was spacious and required minimum alterations. In 2006 we received money from NG Welfare to renovate the building and we built a new section for girls, a lounge and an office for the social worker. The inauguration was on the 1st of June 2007.
Children
The centre can accommodate 12 children - 6 girls and 6 boys. The ages of the children differ from a baby to teenagers. We can also accommodate two young people temporary who finished schooling and either work or study. They have their own apartment to stay till they have their own boarding or to come for visits during holidays.
Services to children in the community
A child placed back in the care of her parents, come to the centre after school. She lunch with the children in the centre and do her homework. The parents come to fetch her after work.Schooling
All our children attend the Solomon Senekal High School which is within walking distance from the centre. They participate in sport like netball, hockey and rugby. They also participate in cultural activities like the revue.
Religion
The children attend the Dutch Reformed Church Viljoenskroon-East and the other activities offered by the church. There are devotion sessions in the centre.
Services rendered at the centre
- The centre make use of the services of a social worker for therapeutical sessions with the children, see that every child has his/her own developmental plan and arrange that the multi therapeutic team meeting is held annually to evaluate achievements and plan ahead.
- The social worker also arranges for the child for weekend and holiday leave to his/her parents or host families.
- The social worker makes the necessary arrangements for the child to receive specialised therapy like psychological- and occupational therapy.
- 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.
- We teach them life-skills like dishwashing, make there own beds, to respect each other, decision making, etc.
Trademarks of the centre
- The structure of the committee is such that we involve as many organisations and individuals in town.
- We are supported by a group in Netherlands “Die Stichting Kinderen In Viljoenskroon” that visit us annually and bring new clothes and toys.
- Fund raising is a joint venture of the KMD, the old age home and the centre at Nampo. We annually have a function for all our donors to say thank you.
- We render a service to young people who already left the centre to help with accommodation.
Needs
- We experience problems with the kombi and have to look for another vehicle.
- Somebody to help with the smaller children’s homework.
- A donor to pay a special therapist like a occupational therapist.
- Pray for the child care worker, her spouse and the children.
- Get involved as a weekend or holiday parent.
Motivation to get involved
- You will have the opportunity to practically experience the difference you have made in a child’s life.
- Many people say that there is more meaning in being able to give than being able to receive.
- Chinese proverb
Postal address:
P.O. Box 1051
VILJOENSKROON
9520
Street address :
49 Piet Retief Street
Viljoenskroon
Telephone/Fax nr: 056-343 2428
Social Workers telephone/Fax nr: 056-343 2428
Staff members
Child Care Worker : Me. Gerda du Toit and her spouse, Willem
Relief CCW : Me. Sybil Crous
Assistant : Me. Maureen Mokhele
Social Worker : Me. Carien Nothling
Management
Chairman : Rev. Hannes Haggard
Vise-chairman : Dr. Jaques Viljoen
Secretary : Me. Lizette Jordan
Chairman Finance : Dr. Jaques Viljoen
Chairman Child Care : Mr. Errol Reid
