Programme Description
DI is the process of reforming child care systems and closing down orphanages/ children‘s institutions/child and youth care centers, finding new placements for children and setting up replacement services to support vulnerable families in non-institutional ways.
South Africa – Rest of Africa
Families caring for children at risk will be supported by a systemic, evidence- and community-based family strengthening programme that creates the conditions necessary for the provision by families of nurturing care to the children in their households.
This pilot will make use of GCF’s membership of the Steering Committee of Transform Alliance Africa(TAA), with members from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, who seek to advocate for an end to institutional care in Africa. The platform welcomes further dissemination and sharing of experiences.
Problem Statement
Research evidence demonstrates harmful effects of institutionalisation on children’s development, health, mental health and social skills.
In the African context, progress has been slow, partly because of a lack of resources, but also because most institutional care is provided privately, with little government oversight. As a result, the system is very decentralised and there are many different actors who need to be sensitised to the damage of institutional care.
Many families struggle in providing food, housing, medicine and access to education for their children. The high levels of domestic violence, alcoholism and drug abuse that are frequently associated with poverty can also be a threat to a child’s safety and lead to children running away, often to live on the streets. Children’s Homes (orphanages as understood by many) provide a perception of safety and access to basic services for children. Consequently, they are often used as an easy and one-size-fits-all solution to much deeper societal problems.
Target Group
The aim is for a greater number of children at risk and in need of alternative care in the Ugu District to be identified and placed with families rather than in child and youth care centres or other centre-based alternative care facilities.
The process would be to implement community based temporary safe care placements instead of residential temporary safe care placements. This model can be replicated.