Brighten up a bleak Christmas
MANY children from financially destitute families will spend this Christmas at homes and orphanages across the country.
The POST spoke to caregivers of some of these organisations about how these children would spend the festive season away from the families.
Aroona Chetty, director of Phoenix Child Welfare, said they had eight children in permanent care at the Phoenix Children’s Home.
“No child chooses to grow up bereft of parents, their natural carers. One of the most heartbreaking statistics shows that minors are spending their childhood in institutional care. Sadly, at least 50% are not orphans, but from financially destitute families unable to care for them,” she said.
“As much as we want these children to be with their families, there are some factors that hinder this process. These include family issues that are not resolved. Some children come from abusive homes and can’t go back as their parents have not yet been rehabilitated.
“Children from other homes are also accommodated at our children’s home as they don’t have families to go to.
“When children can’t be with their families, their emotions include sadness, loneliness and rejection. We try to fill in the gap by taking the children on outings, putting together parties, and buying them toys, new clothes and shoes.
“This festive season we will be hosting three children from other children’s homes as they don’t have families to go to for the holidays. We try our best not to leave children alone during the holidays as it adds to their trauma.”
Chetty said they had volunteers who assisted the children daily and those who went to the home to spend time
with the children.
“The last few years have been harsh on children. With the pandemic pushing more families into poverty, many abandoned their children as they lost the means to take care of them.
“Other children lost one or both parents to Covid and most of these children have ended up in childcare institutions lost, frightened and deeply traumatised.
“The pandemic also caused a backlog in adoptions and a reduction in foster carers. This has increased the number of children per home, putting pressure on an already stretched budget.”
The Phoenix Children’s Home’s operational cost for the month is R60 000 and it needs toys and assistance with tiling, painting and a computer.
St Monica’s Children’s Home is on the Bluff, south of Durban. The home’s director, Althea Daniels, said their children get to visit host families (unrelated families that have been screened), or extended families (like a granny or aunt).
“Some get to be with their parents, if possible. However, there are a handful that remain behind, which is sad.
“The children have to deal with feelings of sadness, hurt and rejection as they miss their families. Many do not vocalise their feelings.”
There are 84 children in the care of St Monica’s home. Over the festive period, about 40 children remain at the home, but this varies annually.
Daniels said volunteers were few. “The culture of volunteerism has dropped significantly. We definitely do not have that many people volunteering. Our protocol around volunteers is strict as we work with children, so police clearance is a requirement.
“We don’t mind females between the ages of 18 to 35 years, but a volunteer form will have to be completed.”