Girl street kids face uncertain future
DOZENS of girl street children in Cape Town will be left in limbo if the only shelter caring for them isn’t able to make up a 20% budget shortfall that came about because of Covid-19, Ons Plek (Our Place) director, Pam Jackson said.
Jackson, who has been involved with the organisation for over 30 years, said that due to the local outbreak of the pandemic, the anticipated funding from sports events and other fundraisers would not be coming through this year.
Severe downscaling of preventative and remedial interventions was now on the cards, leaving dozens of girl street children in limbo, she said.
“For the first time since it opened its doors in 1988, Ons Plek is faced with this situation. The organisation, which has residential shelters for 80 girls aged 0-18 who used to live on the street or are at risk of ending up on the street, is short of R800 000,” said Jackson.
She said that besides the cancellation of key fundraising initiatives, some donors had closed down, while others had redirected their funding to Covid-19 specific initiatives.
Ons Plek had been “financially stable” over the past three decades, according to Jackson.
“This is because we are successful in what we do. Over time, our interventions – both preventative and remedial – have helped reduce the number of girl street children in Cape Town to almost zero.”
Of the R800 000 needed between now and March 2021, Ons Plek intends to raise R250,000 in the short term.
“This will allow us to feed, educate, care for, empower, and counsel the girls in our shelters, while making a plan and carrying on with our interventions to prevent others from ending up on the street.”
Staff salaries were a key component, said Jackson. “Without our teachers, social workers, child workers, and trauma counsellors, we are nowhere.”
Fortunately, Ons Plek had received help, said Jackson.
Gift of the Givers would be providing one month’s worth of food supplies, toiletries and other necessities.
In the meantime, a group of six friends - all professional women from CapeTown - had formed an action committee to help solve the funding issue through a Buckabuddy crowdfunding campaign, social media and marketing assistance, and the hosting of virtual fundraising quizzes.
The group is also spending its time reaching out to various stakeholders to help Ons Plek with monetary and practical necessities.
To donate, contact Miriam Mannak (action committee communications) on 072 882 2852 or email: miriam. mannak@gmail.com.