Greytown Child and Youth Care Centre is situated in the small town of Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal. The centre is registered as a Child and Youth Care Centre to accommodate disadvantaged children between the ages of three and 18 years, irrespective of race, gender or religion. They accommodate 150 children who were all legally removed from their homes and placed in their care. The main reasons for their removal are neglect, abuse including sexual abuse or severe poverty. The Centre follows a holistic care programme where children are accommodated in seven separate houses, in a homely atmosphere. They are clothed, receive three nutritious meals daily, attend school, participate in sports and receive the necessary spiritual, social, psychological, health/medical care.
Established 19 October 1919, Greytown Child and Youth Care Centre is one of the oldest children’s homes in KZN.
VISION
To provide disadvantaged children with all the necessary opportunities to come to terms with the wrongs of the past and make a mind-set change to utilise the available opportunities to change for the better.
The centre’s vision is to develop children,
• That believe in themselves, know that they were born with a purpose in life and that have a positive self-esteem
• Who are well adjusted at school, work hard to achieve success in their studies and eventually pass Grade 12 and possibly admission to further their education
• That respect all other people and live to high moral and social values,
• That care for our environment, and that are in tune with reality and realise that hard work, honesty and diligence is the key to their future success
Running this dedicated programme of services to their children is cost intensive, yet necessary to achieve the goal of self-confident and self-sufficient children who may contribute towards the economic wealth of our country. The Greytown Child and Youth Care Centre need to secure sufficient funding to balance the operational cost budget. The monthly subsidy paid by the Department of Social Development is not enough to provide for a holistic care programme for the children to address the wrongs of the past and create opportunities for them to focus on a better future.
The Greytown Child and Youth Care Centre has a proven track record of dedicated service to children in need for more than 100 years. Since 17 October 1919 the Centre has been a beacon of hope and a new life for thousands of needy children. The centre takes pride in the achievements of their children while at school and many of their former children have climbed the ladder of success in the corporate world and civil society.
The main expenses that they need help with are:
• Electricity (monthly between R50 000 and R70 000)
• Toiletries
• Stationery
• Clothing (school, casual as well as footwear) R19 250/month
• Maintenance of buildings (budgeted for R18 000/month)
• Educational expenses – R9800 per month
If you can assist in any way, contact The Greytown Child and Youth Care Centre on 033 413 2133 or gtnhome@telkomsa.net. Visit www.greytownhome.co.za for more information.