Monica Woodhouse awarded Citation of Honour by the South African Human Rights Commission
“Babusisiwe abenzi bokuthula”. “Blessed are the peacemakers”. In a world scarred by violence and hatred, the imperative to be peacemakers resonates profoundly. It is a divine mandate, reminding us of our responsibility to bring peace to a world in turmoil. Albert Luthuli epitomized this spirit of peace. On December 10th, 1961, amidst a nation torn […]
Essential Rights Every Child Deserves Without Question
Did you know that March marks Human Rights Month in South Africa? If this fact slipped under your radar, take a moment to pause and delve into its significance. You might assume that human rights are distant concepts, irrelevant to your daily life. However, they are deeply intertwined with our collective existence – touching each […]
The Face of Bullying – Part 2
Bullying is real and must never be ignored. A child can be targeted by a classmate, a group of them, or peers in the neighbourhood, or a club. Don’t forget that bullying also happens online. Whoever they are and what they have in common is that they “habitually seek to harm or intimidate those whom […]
The Face of Bullying – Part 1
Bullying is unpredictable and can happen to anyone at any time. It is common, but can still be difficult to discover if your child would be a victim. Firstly, let’s determine what bullying is, so we know what we are talking about. It is always unwanted, repeated and somehow shows aggressive behaviour towards someone else. […]
My neighbours are asking if I’m mad
“My neighbours are asking if I’m mad,” Mrs Dlamini laughs. She enthusiastically shares her foster care journey with us, sitting on the family’s sofa with the sun shining in through the open door. Chickens are running around in the garden facing the many houses on the green hills. For Mr and Mrs Dalmini, it began […]
CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFER WORLD
We all know someone who is abused. Perhaps you are not aware, but be so sure, you do know someone. It does not matter where you live, what you do and what circles of friends and colleagues you surround yourself with. One or more of them, perhaps yourself, is a victim. Globally, it is estimated […]
So, what is the problem with children’s homes?
Did you know that even the best-run modern children’s home, can never be a replacement for family life? Everything can look perfect to the outside eye, but how is it r-e-a-l-l-y for the children growing up there? For many years, children’s homes were fully accepted globally and were seen as a good way to save children, with […]
DSD late and non-payments leave NPOs in dire straits
Article in South Coast Herald – 17 November 2023 The Department of Social Development (DSD) has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, again. The latest is the dire situation with NPOs, and Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCC), which, as of the time of writing, have not been paid. Again. There has […]
GCF Education – Changing lives
“I’m really happy being here. When I started in 2003, they asked me if I could consider staying for a long time, I said 3 years, but 3 years was extended to 18…” Thembi Gumede laughs when she tells how her story with GCF started. After 10 years as a teacher in Governmental schools, she […]
GCF Education – Happy Days School
Meet Nonkazimulo Mavundla. In October, she celebrates her seventh year as a Teacher Assistant at GCF’s Happy Days School. While she’s part of a dedicated education team at the centre, her primary responsibility is caring for children aged 3 to 4, including those with special needs. Nonkazimulo’s passion for her work is evident in her […]