Child Welfare needs community support

The local organisation is in need of support and donations from the community, so they can continue making a difference.

April 4, 2017

Elbi Dippenaar 1 minute read

MBOMBELA – Child Welfare is celebrating its 80th year in 2017. The self-sufficient service organisation serves families in need, with a focus on children.

Child Welfare South Africa was established in 1937 and has since aimed to provide assistance to any family that has social problems.

“We do get a portion of our funding from the government, but we rely mostly on sponsors and donations,” said office administrator, Penny Jane Tredgold.

According to Nomfundo Myeza, the courts often refer cases to Child Welfare.

“They rely on us to identify any problems in a family so that they can make the best decisions. Last year we had around 280 official cases and another 319 cases which we took on, but these were sorted out without going to court.”

Child Welfare tackles casework and marital problems, supplies food parcels, presents awareness programmes, offers protection services and runs skills-development programmes.

The area covered by Child Welfare Nelspruit consists of Mbombela, Mataffin, Valencia, KaMagugu and Nelsville.

“I would estimate our success rate to be around 60 per cent, but some children have behavioural problems that are a lifelong process to treat, as they experienced great trauma,” said Myeza.

There are not necessarily more cases in the rural areas compared to the city.

“Rural areas have more domestic abuse and the city has more divorce cases. Parents can be spiteful towards each other, and the children are used as pawns. This often leaves children emotionally traumatised. We help all children with issues including emotional, physical and sexual abuse and peer pressure.”

Child Welfare will host the Amazing Race on Saturday May 6 to raise funds. Enquiries: 013-753-3330 / childwelfarenel@mweb.co.za or visit the office at 10 Ehmke Street.