Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A formidable team!



Child & Youth Care workers (l -r) : Chane Williams, Louis Otto, Lucas Motshotsho,  Ronita Fisher, Urshula Pienaar

South Africa's children and youth are of the most vulnerable sectors of our population. It is a fact recognised by Government and one of the reasons the authorities have partnered with NGOs to establish programmes specially designed to assist this group.
 Carryou Ministry's Child and Youth Care programme, established in August last year, is part of this initiative.
 In Toekomsrus, Randfontein, there are currently five Child and Youth Care Workers operating in the immediate area.
 "Their role is to go out into the field and provide support to young people in five areas -- physical, spiritual, cognitive, emotional and social," says Carryou Ministry General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso.
 "It is a hands-on approach."
 Each Child and Youth Care Worker (CYCW) is expected to work with around 36 families per annum, in addition to emergency cases that may arise.
 "It's hard work but enormously rewarding," says CYCW, Louise Otto.

Safe Park

 Kids who need assistance are often identified at Carryou's 'Safe Park', a facility established to give youngsters a safe place to visit.
 "We sometimes identify children in need, by watching the way they engage or do not engage with others," says CYCW, Ronita Fisher. "Or we may see there is a problem from the way they use colour in their drawings or how they play with the dolls."
 Sometimes schools refer children to them.
 "Once we have identified a problem, the first step is to engage with the parents of the child. Our goal is to work with and preserve families," says CYCW, Chane Williams, "and, where necessary, we work closely with the schools, social workers, churches and sometimes the police."
 Whilst the programme deals with a number of social issues, including abuse, the most common case the Child and Youth Care Workers deal with, is kids who have learning difficulties and problems at school.
 "When we encounter a youngster with those issues we immediately sit down with the family and together devise a plan," says CYCW, Lucas Motshotsho. "A support programme is drawn up and we will spend time teaching and tutoring the child every day. Where needed, an outside tutor will be brought in."
 Urshula Pienaar is the programme's disability facilitator.
 "Quite often you will find a disabled child within a family who is isolated and my role is to assist in helping the family engage and integrate the youngster into a more normal situation," she says.
 "I also help find practical solutions to everyday, physical-care problems they may face."

2 comments:

  1. Thumbs up you guys, good work indeed. You have built the confidence I have for you by yourselves through hard work and dedication to your studies. All the Best, Kenneth Malepe.

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  2. I remember how carryou has helped me to get me to the stage am at now...they may have not done much for me but they as a ministry has helped me get from being as ophaned as i am to be feeling like i have many parents...and the man by the name Mr Kenneth Malepe a friend,former boss and lol he used to call me coleague he is my inspiration and has showed me that being an ophen does'nt stop you from going anywhere in life.and all of you guys doing the best you can to change our community i wish you the best of luck and may God bless you and keep you going on and on,with God's help i might be able to help you guys where i can soon
    Much love:friend and former workmates Thabang j. Kalabase

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