GIVE A CHILD A FAMILY AFRICA
Give a Child a Family Africa (GCF) operates from the conviction that children have the right to grow up in a family and this principle is embedded in the GCF Vision.
GCF is a registered Child Protection Organisation promoting the rights and wellbeing of children and families.
Thank you for making a contribution.
You can choose one of the following methods to make your donation.
EFT DETAILS
- Give a Child a Family Banking Details
- Account name: Give a Child a Family
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: Port Shepstone
Branch code: 198 765
Account type: Current/Cheque account
Account number: 1398 047 244
Swift code: NEDSZAJJ
Reference: Donate *YOUR NAME*
- Swedish Banking Details
- Bankgironr: 5279-9954
Swish: 123 161 15 57
- Dutch banking details:
- NL84RABO 0364618051
- t.n.v. Stichting Vrienden van GCF te Amsterdam.
Our Vision and Mission
The Vision of GCF Africa is:
Children Belong in Secure Families!
The Mission of GCF Africa is to:
- PROTECT children by upholding their rights.
- PROMOTE family-based care that is responsive and nurturing.
- PROVIDE strengthening services that build resilient communities.
- PURSUE effective child safeguarding systems in Africa.
GCF AFRICA COMMITS TO FAMILIES OVER INSTITUTIONS
Give a Child a Family Africa believes that every child should grow up in a stable, loving, and nurturing family where they can reach their full potential. As an organisation, we stand behind the global care reform movement, advocating for the transition away from children’s homes and emphasising care in secure families within the community as the most obvious answer to this.
We recognise that children thrive in environments where they feel safe, loved, and supported. Research has shown that children who grow up in family-based settings are more likely to develop emotionally, socially, and academically. Our commitment to the cause is unwavering, and we work tirelessly to advocate for policies and practices that prioritise family care.
We work with local communities, policymakers, and stakeholders at all levels to strengthen and empower families in providing the care children need. This collaboration is essential for preventing the removal of children from their families of origin. Our programmes focus on prevention, early intervention, and community support, paving the way for children to flourish in safe, nurturing environments.
We invite everyone to join us in this important mission. Your involvement, whether through advocacy, donations, or supporting us in other ways, can make a significant impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families. Together, we can build a brighter future, ensuring that every child has the chance to grow up in a loving family.
Thank you for standing with us.
How do I become a Foster Parent?
Give a Child a Family Africa (GCF) is actively seeking compassionate people who are willing to open their hearts and homes to children from challenging and traumatic backgrounds. If you are an adult with a stable life situation and a sincere desire to contribute to the well-being of children, this might be for you. Currently, we focus on foster care in the UGU District, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. If you reside elsewhere, we encourage you to reach out to your local social work office to explore foster parenting opportunities.
At GCF, we firmly believe that every child deserves to grow up in a healthy family environment. When the biological family is unsuitable for now, our approved foster parents step in to provide nurturing care. Most of the foster children we work with have experienced a period in a Child and Youth Care Centre (children’s home) or in one of the organisation’s Temporary Safe Care families.
Becoming a foster parent is a significant commitment that not only transforms the life of a child from another family but also impacts yours and your family members. You will be responsible for the child’s care and development, often for a minimum period of 2 years or longer, under the supervision of a social worker.
The process of becoming a foster parent with GCF:
household to understand your family dynamics and ensure that a potential foster child’s needs will be met.
2. Home visits: We assess your living environment through home visits to ensure it is safe and suitable for a child.
3. Documentation: Various documents are required to ensure the child’s safety, including Name Clearance from your local police station and an outcome of a Form 30 application establishing if your name is on the National Child Protection Register. The mentioned documents are for all members of your household above the age of 18.
4. Approval and database: Once you successfully complete all necessary steps, your family will be considered for inclusion in GCF’s Foster Care Database. Only families on this database can be matched with a child when a social worker contacts us in need of a foster family.
5. Matching and Introduction: We carefully compare the child’s profile with potential foster families to find the best match. If all goes well, the child and the foster family have the opportunity to get to know each other, build strong bonds and eventually live together, formalised through a court order.
For more information, contact us at fostercare@gcf.org.za or phone 039 317 2761.
How do I become a Temporary Safety Parent?
Being a safety parent involves both challenges and stress for you and your family, carrying significant responsibilities. If you are in a stable phase of life, prepared to commit to providing a safe and loving haven for a child coming straight from a traumatic situation and have the resilience it takes, we encourage you to consider this. Our operations are centred in the UGU District, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. If you are interested but reside outside our region, please reach out to your local social work office.
The process of becoming a temporary safety parent with GCF:
1. Interviews: Our temporary safe care team conducts thorough interviews with everyone in your household to understand your family dynamics and ensure that a potential child’s needs will be met.
2. Home visits: We assess your living environment through home visits to ensure it is safe and suitable for a child.
6. Documentation: Various documents are required to ensure the child’s safety, including Name Clearance from your local police station and an outcome of a Form 30 application establishing if your name is on the National Child Protection Register. The mentioned documents are for all members of your household above the age of 18.
3. Approval and database: Once you successfully complete all necessary steps, your family will be considered for inclusion in GCF’s Temporary Safe Care Database.
4. Matching: When a child’s social worker contacts GCF, we carefully consider your family’s profile to find the best match for the specific child. The placement is formalised by a court order.
5. Form 39: The child’s social worker assists you in receiving approval from the Department of Social Development for providing temporary safe care, ensuring the child can legally stay with you.
6. Placement: On short notice, a child may be placed with you based on a court order.
For more information, contact us at fostercare@gcf.org.za or phone 039 317 2761.
Reach
GCF Programmes have been facilitated and trained in 12 countries across Africa.
For Africans, by Africans.
Mozambique
- Foster Care
- Protective Behaviours
- Justice4Children
- Organisational Development
- Residential Care
- CYCC Audits with recommendations
- Deinstitutionalisation
Uganda
- Foster Care
Rwanda
- Parenting4Life
- Foster Care
- Organisational Development
Burundi
- Parenting4Life
Kenya
- Foster Care
- Parenting4Life
- Advocacy
Central African Republic
- Justice4Children
- Protective Behaviours
Ethiopia
- Foster Care
- Facilitator Training
- Justice4Children
- Protective Behaviours
Namibia
- Foster Care
- Deinstitutionalisation
Swaziland
- Justice4Children
- Protective Behaviours
- Organisational Development
Zambia
- Justice4Children
- Protective Behaviours
Zimbabwe
- Safeguarding
South Africa
- All programmes
What We Do
GCF’s approach is fundamentally developmental and transformative: it offers an integrated suite of developmental social welfare services and support to build the resilience of children, families and communities to mitigate the risks faced by vulnerable children, with the objective of giving them an equal opportunity to enjoy their rights to family care, to survive, be protected and develop to their full potential.
GCF FAMILY SERVICES
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
SPECIALISED SERVICES
How to Help
Everyone can do something to make a difference. Choose one of these options.
We need YOU!
Fundraise
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Monthly Signup Form
By giving a monthly donation, you are promoting the wellbeing of children and families!
Leave a Legacy
A heartfelt gift in memory of a loved one.
Campaigns
Find a campaign to support or start your own.
GCF Ambassador
Tell the world about us and what we do!
Donate
You can make a difference!
Our Partners and Funders
Our Blog
A Legacy of Love: How Your Gift Can Change Lives Beyond Your Lifetime
We all hope to leave the world a little better than we found it. For many, this means ensuring that the values we hold dear continue to make a difference long after we are gone. At Give a Child a Family Africa, we believe that every child deserves a loving, secure...
The Ripple Effect of Training: Empowering Families, Communities and Social Workers
So much has changed over the years. When I think about training, I realise how deeply embedded it is in GCF’s work. For nearly 25 years, we have been equipping others, starting with preparing people to receive children into foster care. Over time, this has evolved...
Seeing Beyond the Labels
In my home language, we say we become “injured at work.” It’s not about physical harm but a way to express how much we live and breathe what we do. For me and my colleagues, child protection is more than just a job—it’s part of who we are. Sometimes, it feels...
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Email: info@gcf.org.za
Call: +27 (0)39 317 2761