Twelve orphans from the Port Alfred area will get a well furnished house from the MEC for Human Settlements, Safety and Liaison Mrs Helen Saul August tomorrow 22 February 2011 in Port Alfred starting at 10h00.
The home will be used as a foster care home accommodating orphans aged between the ages of 2 to 12 years. The home is designed to provide decent shelter to orphans and ensure that their grants are spent on their well being. Currently there is only one orphanage home based in Kenton on Sea.
The home will target neglected children from the nearby townships from Ba thurst and Port Alfred community.
Background on Port Alfred Cluster Foster Care Homes
The Child Welfare Port Alfred attends to a wide variety of services to orphans and vulnerable children including physical neglect, child abuse (sexual, physical and emotional), behavioural problems, domestic violence, substance abuse, material need, abuse of grants and HIV and AIDS cases. Referrals are received from the Department of Social Development, Port Alfred Hospital, South African Police Service (SAPS) - Bathurst and Port Alfred, Magistrate's Court, Clinics - Bathurst and Port Alfred, schools and self-referrals as well as members of the community.
Presently the society has a case load of approximately 550 children. During the past year, approximately 85 children were placed in foster care through the Children's Court by means of the Child Care Act. Assistance with shelter requirements is an important part of overall health and social development welfare strategies to address the current crisis of children in need. To this effect, the society has identified the need for foster care homes to permanently place children at risk.
Child Welfare Port Alfred applied for special needs housing subsidies for the acquisition and renovation of foster care homes. The organisation found a suitable property in a safe area big enough to subdivide in two units providing a home for a total of 12 children (each unit making provision for six foster care children and a house mother.)
The event will be held as follows:
Date: 22 February 2011
Venue: High Street, Port Alfred
Time:10h00
Enquiries:
Lwandile Sicwetsha
Cell: 071 671 1770
Source: Eastern Cape Human Settlements
