Make a difference

You can make a meaningful difference in the lives of destitute children, writes Karen Read

THERE’S A DESPERATE NEED in South Africa to care for children who have been either orphaned or abandoned or removed from the custody of their parents because of dangerous or dire circumstances. Some of these children find their way to children’s homes, which can be homely… or anything but.

For those of us who are willing to share our resources, time, talents and love, if we were to extend ourselves further and get involved in these homes, there’s a lot we could do for the children and their carers.

“Before you jump in boots and all, first check that the home is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO),” advises social worker Elke Day. “There are places that operate without proper registration and therefore don’t have funding or oversight from the Department of Social Development. You don’t want to be enabling a setup that is more focused on getting donations than it is in caring for children.”

“If the home is not registered, the best way to support them may be to help them get registered so that they can access government funding,” she suggests. GIVE OF YOUR TALENTS “This is a great way to give,” says Elke. “If you’re an accountant, auditor or bookkeeper, offer to help do the books. If you’re a lawyer, attend to legal matters on a pro bono basis.” She says professionals are always useful to serve as board members while a handyman can offer to fix broken furniture or appliances.

“So often, donations are given of items that need to be patched up, so any help with this work is valuable,” she adds.

A paramedic or nurse might check if the home’s first aid kit is properly stocked or if there isn’t one, they can try to get one donated or check that the staff have basic first aid training. If they don’t, one can sponsor a course for a member of staff.

If you have green fingers, organise a work party in the garden; check the plants are non-toxic and replace with alternatives or just tidy things up and make sure everything is child-safe, including jungle gyms and swings.

GIVE OF YOUR TIME Nothing demonstrates love like spending your precious time on another person. Just one hour a week spent playing with or reading to a child can have a huge impact on that child. Most children enjoy painting, face-painting, puzzles and crafts. And what child doesn’t love the beach or an outing to the movies or the theatre? You could host an event – such as treating all the children to a trip to a museum or a tugboat around the harbour. Or you and a group of friends could make sure that every child’s birthday is celebrated by baking a cake or throwing a party for each of the children on their birthdays.

GIVE LOVE Love can be expressed by giving time, acts of service (cooking a meal), touch or words of affirmation. Children in children’s homes don’t always get enough one-on-one attention, which is why volunteers are encouraged to read to small groups of children on a regular basis and to do exercises with the children, as well as helping those of a school-going age with homework. You could also help the older children by providing them with stationery and school uniforms.

Social worker Gaye Moonieya says she remembers reading about grannies who used to go to a school one day a week to read to the children and on that day there was substantially less absenteeism because the children used to so look forward to it.

GIVE MONEY

If you know that an organisation is a properly run NPO and doing a good job, consider making a regular contribution towards the ongoing costs of the home. Salaries have to be funded somehow. “Donors often don’t want their money to go to staff, but in the case of children, their main requirement is a caregiver, so this is a challenge,” says Elke.

Money is a huge need when running an organisation, Gaye says. “You just have to make sure you’re putting your money in the right place.”

Elke says that by attending the AGM and asking questions, you can ensure accountability. And interrogate the financials, which should be available at the AGM, which should be held annually. YB