In South Africa, after apartheid ended in 1994, the city of Gqeberha faced a deepening housing crisis despite government efforts to build low-cost housing over the past 15 years. The area grapples with urban decay, poor infrastructure, overcrowding, poverty, and high unemployment, compounded by the shadow of HIV/AIDS, rising crime, and substance abuse.
Amid these challenges, children who are most vulnerable, often become caregivers when parents fall ill and can’t work. This early immersion into extreme hardship takes a toll on their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Their situation is then, worsened by the absence of robust support systems, leaving them without education and a proper childhood, and at risk of losing their homes or ending up in poor-quality housing.
SOS Children’s Villages began working in Gqeberha in 1989. We support the local population through our SOS Social Centre, particularly assisting with access to education and health care.Two years ago, SOS Children’s Villages South Africa wanted to rejuvenate its facilities—a vital step to provide an environment where children could flourish securely, nurturing their self-confidence and positive self-esteem.
To help do this wepartnered with the tcc Foundation to improve the lives of South African children. Tcc Foundation funded the renovation of ten houses at SOS Children’s Villages Pietermaritzburg in 2022 and are continuing their support by funding the renovation of more family homes this year in SOS Children’s Village Gqeberha.
Helping children build vital family bonds in Gqeberha
Rene has been a caregiver for 21 years at the SOS Children’s Village Gqeberha. She has been integral to giving children who have grown up previously without care a childhood with strong bonds, love, and the support they need to grow up and thrive.
When asked about the renovations, she said they were all so excited! So far, the children are pleased with the fresh coat of paint in their bedrooms and are looking forward to getting new cupboards. The two eldest, who are in their teenage years, take pride in their clothing and want somewhere clean to store them. Rene says the home’s cupboards have not been updated for more than 15 years, and she is excited to have more space for the children’s clothing.
When asked about the plannedimprovement of the kitchen, Rene shared that she would love to have more pantry space and cupboards that are not a hazard to open and close, especially for the little ones in the house.For the family, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Rene enjoys preparing healthy and hearty meals for the children. They all love sitting at the table, doing homework and chatting about their day at school, while the lovely smells of Rene’s cooking fill the air.
“The children love my cooking! On Sundays, I bake muffins with my 10-year-old, she loves baking. The family favourites are plain muffins, with bananas and choc chips. We usually have these in the evening on Sundays with tea for dinner, because in our home on Sundays, we cook a big meal for lunch”.
Rene and the children are so thankful for the renovations that have been finished and for the remaining work to be done. Rene exclaims “Our spirits are lifted!”.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
“The children love my cooking! On Sundays, I bake muffins with my 10-year-old, she loves baking. The family favourites are plain muffins, with bananas and choc chips. We usually have these in the evening on Sundays with tea for dinner, because in our home on Sundays, we cook a big meal for lunch”.
