Foster parents were honoured in recognition of their work for taking care of their Foster children. They protect and nurture the children through providing of a safe and healthy environment, with positive support and sound parenting.
The event was held at Lower Nxotshana Village, Mount Fletcher in Ukhahlamba District Municipality on 18 March 2010. On this day foster parents share their experiences and success stories in foster homes so that communities could learn from them.
According to Mr D Maxegwana, the General Manager for Social Welfare Services it is the government‘s responsibility to take care of vulnerable and orphaned children , so that they do not end up being subjected to secondary victimisation which might cause more challengesin their lives.
Abuse, neglect, death of parent and inability of families to take care of children are some of the reasons that opens these children to orphan and vulnerability.
The department therefore provides a range of services such as provision of psycho-social support, care and protection so that it could overcome the challenges met by orphaned and vulnerable children. This in turn overcome disintegration of families, high levels of poverty and child headed homes.
The event was also graced by the presence of other government departments and stakeholders to give messages of support and highlighted integration of programmes and how they are aligned to the foster care programme.
Health, Education, Justice, local municipality, the South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) and House of Traditional Leaders were some of the departments that graced the event.
Issued by: Department of Social Development, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
26 March 2010
Source: Department of Social Development, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.socdev.ecprov.gov.za/)
