Yenzani raises concerns about children

Founder of Yenzani Children’s Home in Midrand, Sanne Mirk said, “South Africa is faced with the challenge of raising awareness about the need for child protection. We need to mobilise people to support child protection efforts and share stories of hope.”

In a quest to do more to protect children, Mirk said she formed Yenzani Childrens’ Home, a place for abandoned, abused and orphaned children, to prevent these children having to return to the home of their perpetrators.

Yenzani is registered to care for 16 children by the Department of Social Development for children aged between four to 18. The home reunites and accommodates siblings to try and preserve the family unit, especially when no extended family is available. Mirk said at Yenzani, the children meet with a multi-disciplinary team of caregivers, social workers, psychologist and doctors meet, who plan their recovery and the child’s unique programme.

“This programme is revised every six months or earlier if needed,” said Mirk. “This system works really well and within a very short period we see the child start to thrive, adapt to the ‘home’ life and start to regain some self-respect and self esteem. Another cornerstone at Yenzani is the care provided by our staff who play a parental role.”

Mirk stated that if society better protected children, none of them would go through the trauma they encounter in life. She urged South Africa to find effective ways to ensure children’s safety and well-being are secured.

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