What we do

These are some of our current projects: (click on each for details)

• Caring for Crèches

• Kids R Special

• Outreach in Soweto (this page)

• Funding a Crèche

• Research into "Why"

  
  

Working with our partner in Soweto

COPESSA is a service, started in 2004, that has a similar ethos to ours and works directly in one of the newest yet most deprived areas of Soweto. Amongst the local townships there are growing several squatter encampments of economic migrants – an uneasy mix of people from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland. The camps have poor water supply, no schools, or services, ill health is rife, and violence sits just below the surface, often erupting in weekly battles. The children here are highly vulnerable and we are supporting COPESSA with the stipends for 5 volunteers to work with young people and help to divert them to different, less crime-ridden and abusive lives.

Where the young people live

Treating abused children, and keeping them safe is a crucial part of our work. But this project is part of our growing conviction that unless we can get to those who have both been abused, and those who are the potential perpetrators early then we have little chance of breaking the cycle of abuse. Simply treating known perpetrators, evidence shows, can be successful but the absolutely essential work is with young people before they have got too entrenched in a criminal way of life…. besides which many of these youngsters have had a shocking start to life, and have had to live with crime, illness, death, bereavement and abuse.

So we support and fund 5 young people from the townships to support and work with their peers focussing on several things

• Counselling for those who are troubled
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• A quiet place for homework
• Developing social skills and coping mechanisms for emotional outlet
• Using art, music and drama as a form of emotional release.

We are funding the 5 volunteers for training and with monthly stipends and each of them has aspirations for further and higher education.  In its own small way this is a hugely exciting project.