Staying Connected: What Today’s Children Need Most from Their Parents
In a world where technology connects us instantly but emotionally distances us more than ever, today’s children are facing pressures that many adults never experienced in their own childhoods. The recent Netflix docuseries Adolescence offers a powerful and, at times, unsettling glimpse into what it means to grow up in the digital age. For parents, […]
From Foster Care to Forever Families: A Heart-warming Goodbye
On a warm afternoon, we gathered at one of our foster mothers’ homes, nestled deep in a rural area where rolling green hills stretch far and wide, and cows and goats roam freely along the narrow roads. This meeting was special. After many years of walking together, it was time to officially close this particular […]
Protecting South Africa’s Children: The Imperative of Vigilance and Reporting
The recent harrowing cases of young children like Cwecwe and Joslin Smith have cast a stark light on the vulnerabilities faced by children in South Africa. These incidents not only underscore the urgent need for robust child protection mechanisms but also highlight the pivotal role that timely reporting plays in safeguarding our nation’s youth. The […]
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 home. With your support, […]
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 into training parents to reunite with their biological children, […]
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 surprising when others don’t […]
Stop dreaming, start doing
It’s a new year, and maybe this is the time to finally follow through on that dream of doing something meaningful for others. How often do we catch ourselves saying, “If I had more time… if I were younger, older… if I had more money or space, I’d do that thing I’ve always wanted to […]
“Where is my mommy?” – Transition from institution to family
I don’t know how many times I have had little girls and boys looking at me with big eyes, asking, “Where is my mommy?” or “When am I moving?” Children were moving, but it was always the ones left behind, waiting and longing. Years later, not working with GCF’s foster care programme anymore, this memory […]
Strengthening Families for a Better Tomorrow
“I walk into homes with nothing in them, no furniture and hardly any food,” says one of GCF’s community workers. Her team has begun assessing new at-risk families we have not worked with before, to see if they qualify for our “Parenting 4 Life” programme. Families finding themselves at risk are often facing a range […]
A Celebration to the Amazing Women Around Us
Throughout the history of GCF, we have witnessed the strength and resilience of women time and time again. This is not only among our own staff, who work tirelessly to create a better world for vulnerable children and families, but also our foster mothers, temporary safe care moms, and the mothers in the villages where […]