Exponential growth at Toekies

Kenneth Malepe, Programme Manager

 "Over the past year the Toekomsrus Department of Carryou Ministry has shown exponential growth," says Programme Manager, Kenneth Malepe. "This is as a result of services offered by our community caregivers, EPWPs, Coordinators, Child and Youth Care Workers and Auxiliary Social Workers."
 The Toekomsrus Drop In Centre has become a leading service provider and was recently recognised as the third best provider of it's kind in Gauteng.
 Three programmes are offered:

•  Toekomsrus HIV/AIDS Support Programme (Drop In Centre)
•  Isibindi Programme
•  Victim Empowerment Programme

  The impact of these programmes has been enormous. In one year, 12 481 households were visited, 4 839 school visits were conducted and 4 926 people were referred to Auxiliary Social Workers. 453 children and 61 adults received a daily, cooked meal and fifty eight households received monthly food parcels.
 In addition, a number of people were helped to obtain ID documents, child grants and disability grants.
 "We also succeeded in getting five youngsters from the community, accepted into tertiary education facilities," says Kenneth,

Activities for kids at the Toekomsrus Drop In Centre

Meet our people: Ursula Pienaar - bringing smiles to kids' faces

 Ursula Pienaar (32), Child and Youth Worker at Carryou Ministry, always had a passion to work with children.
 "There was a time in my life when I was caught up in an abusive situation and I wanted to find a way to teach children what their rights are," she says.
 Pienaar, a single mom, grew up in Toekomsrus where she matriculated in 2000.
 "In 2008 I started work at Carryou as a Care Giver," she says, "and two months later was appointed personal assistant to the Human Resources Manager. I also did duty as the receptionist.
 "Then, when the Drop-in Centre at Toekomsrus was built, I took up the post of H.R. Manager there."
 But Ursula really wanted to be at the coal-face, in the field, directly helping people.
 "When I heard the Child and Youth Care Programme was being started I immediately applied to join and was absolutely delighted when I was accepted," Pienaar says.

Disability Facilitator

 Since then she has also, in addition, trained as a Disability Facilitator.
 "It was natural to do so," she says. "Disabled kids are often isolated and kept out of mainstream society. My role is to help the family engage with and integrate the child back into the community.
 "Often, a family simply does not have the skills, knowledge or resources to cope with the practicalities of raising a disabled child and I then try to help set up and implement practical solutions.
 "There is nothing I love more than seeing a smile light up a child's face," Pienaar says.
 When not working, Ursula enjoys swimming and is very involved in church activities.
 "I get a lot of encouragement from my pastor," she says, "and am constantly inspired by the Project Manager at Toekomsrus, Kenneth Malepe."
 And the future?
 "One day I'd like to be married and build a shelter for children -- especially street children. But for now, I am happy doing what I do."