Abraham Kriel Childcare Our children are from different races and both sexes and all come from desperate situations due to abuse, rejection, disappointment and deprivation. Some are clever, healthy and pretty. Some have physical or mental disabilities. Some already have to deal with the effects of HIV Aids. Some are newborn babies, others are already 18. Abraham Kriel Childcare is one of South Africa’s oldest and most respected childcare organisations. With 106 years of experience in childcare, the organisation takes the lead in numerous new developments. Therapeutic services have long been standard practice. This has been expanded first by opening specialist houses for children with complex trauma and others with special needs and most recently with the opening of an “Impact School” in an effort to ensure the healing and development of damaged children in an unthreatening environment. We really try hard to better these children’s chances of a stable, independent and purposeful life. All these programmes can be presented in detail. A brief history: In 1902 Reverend Abraham Kriel established Langlaagte Children’s Home, with 7 orphans in one corrugated iron building. In 1908 Maria Kloppers established Maria Kloppers Children’s Haven to care for unwanted babies. In 1979 Reverend Jan Hofmeyr and the Uniting Reformed Church established Emdeni Children’s Home in Soweto. Since 1995, satellite homes became a reality in ordinary suburbs in Johannesburg, Kemptonpark and Benoni. In 2003 we started the first HIV/AIDS home based care programme for child-headed families in Soweto in partnership with Steinhoff Africa. In the same year the Johanna Malan ECDC (adjacent to Maria Kloppers campus) came under our management to save it from closure. In 2006 the second HIV/AIDS home based care programme started in Westbury, Johannesburg. In 2006 we established specialist care for children with “complex trauma” on the Langlaagte Campus In January 2008 we started an Impact School on the Langlaagte campus for 40 children with complex trauma. In July 2008, Abraham Kriel opened a Drop-in Centre in Zola, Soweto. Residential care services on 3 campuses and in 7 satellite homes in ordinary suburbs (285 children between 0 and 19 years) · Emdeni Campus in Soweto with 3 houses · Maria Kloppers Campus in Observatory with a baby unit , and 3 houses · Langlaagte Campus with 11 houses offering the following Specialist Services: 5 Trauma Unitsfor children, who suffer from complex trauma, developmental trauma and attachment disorders manifesting in difficult behaviour. They need a lot of intensive therapy and guidance with 24/7 supervision. 4 Specialist houses providing in the special needs of children with physical and mental disabilities 2 Houses as Transitional units where evaluation for suitable placement is done An “Impact School” at Langlaagte for children who do not cope in mainstream schools due to severe trauma. 40 children enjoy intensive remedial education with all the necessary patience and knowledge of their problems. The aim is to strengthen them emotionally and academically to place them back in mainstream schooling eventually. · 7 Satellite homes in communities of Benoni, Kempton Park, Mayfair, Linden, Fontainebleau, Risidale, where the less traumatised children are able to blend into their communities, enjoying as close to a normal family life as possible.
Community Care · Three programmes to benefit Aids orphans and child headed families (HIV/AIDS affected/infected) (400 children between 0 and 19 years and 149 adults) The two home-based care programmes (in Soweto and in Westbury) receive food and donations from a communal kitchen. Social workers are stationed in offices near children’s houses/shacks/informal housing. During the coming financial year the HBC programme in Westbury will be gradually converted into a drop-in-centre as a more cost effective service alternative and to ensure the best care possible for pre-school children in the programme. The third programme is a drop-in centre in Zola, where 100 children receive two meals daily and where enrichment programmes and social services are available to add value. · Early childhood developmentcentre in Yeoville for disadvantaged children 6 years and younger. Formal pre-school education, a beautiful safe playground and farm animals form a haven in a poor and dangerous residential area. (85 children)
Funding and Budget: To deliver these services, Abraham Kriel Childcare needs R27 879 968 (April 2009 - 31 March 2010). The current economy required extreme caution and planning for the 2009/2010 budget. We understand that companies and individuals can only donate money/goods if they can afford to. The two main reasons for our extraordinary saving measures are:
The pressing world economy and
No increases in per child subsidies or programme funding from the Department of Social Development for two years running.
REQUESTIt is heartbreaking that institutions like this should even exist.We cannot deny that these children are the result of the inabilities and often-twisted psyches of others.Each one of these children deserves the opportunity to break the vicious cycle of social inability and maladjustment.With your help, we work each day to achieve this!
CSI DEPARTMENTS, COMPANIES, INDIVIDUALS, CHURCHES, FRIENDS, GROUPS CAN HELP!If in doubt, contact us (011 839 3058 /info@abrahamkriel.org) to arrange a visit to any of our campuses, houses or programmes.