Supporting Families Before the Breaking Point: How Early Support Changes Lives
Most family crises do not happen overnight. They build gradually. One difficult situation follows another, stress increases, and before long, a caregiver feels overwhelmed and unsure what to do next. In those moments, there is a real risk of emotional decisions that may cause further harm. Many of us have felt that pressure ourselves. But […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]