Girls home in need of support
“The home gives residential care, which includes provision and protection, nutrition, clothing, housing, school supplies, developmental programmes and therapeutic programmes.”
Uitkoms Home for Girls in Observatory is in need of donations and financial assistance.
The home is asking for any donation for the daily running of the home.
Uitkoms provides residential accommodation and care for pregnant teenage girls and vulnerable girls who have been referred by the courts.
The home was established in 1944.
The home’s administration officer Yolanda Erasmus said Uitkoms, like many NPOs, is in need of donations to be able to continue providing service to the girls in need.
“The home gives residential care which includes provision and protection, nutrition, clothing, housing, school supplies, developmental programmes and therapeutic programmes. All the services and activities, like any other household, need money.
“We are pleading with the community and businesses to assist us to ensure these girls are looked after,” said Erasmus.
The developmental programme includes schooling at local schools and in the case of girls who cannot attend due to pregnancy or short-term care, attend Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) classes.
The home is in need of a lawnmower, stationery, groceries and crockery. Bread costs the home R1 000 per month.
Funds are also needed to cover petrol for vehicles, maintenance of vehicles, school shoes, uniforms, school bags, electrical rewiring of the building and pocket money for the girls which is R120 per girl per month.
“The home receives a subsidy from the Department of Social Development but the balance of the funding needs to be obtained from other sources. We really need donations.
“Our home has provided a valuable service to the community for many years and maintains its uniqueness in the care of pregnant teenage girls. We would like to continue this service and want to be available to assist vulnerable teenage girls to take back their lives and become productive self-sustaining future citizens,” said Erasmus.
Those who would like to assist the home can contact Erasmus on 011 487 0357 or admin@uitkoms.org.za
Those who are interesting in knowing more about the home can attend the annual general meeting on October 22 at 10am.
The meeting will take place at Uitkoms at 124 St Georges Street, Observatory.
