The Purple Willow launched as a children’s haven

Greater Alberton areas and the South of Johannesburg will soon have a children’s safe haven for young victims of abuse.

Different entities jointly introduced a crisis safe house, officially named The Purple Willow, to temporarily house young abuse victims.

Based in Alberton North, the springboard place of safety will be a place of rest and safety for abandoned, neglected and abused children.

The springboard safe house was officially named on May 6 at Reading Country Club. Its name was revealed at a charity golf day after corporates contributed generously, booking four-balls and sponsoring holes.

Organised by Ward 106 councillor Timothy Denny and committee members, the golf day was in aid of The Teddy Bear Clinic and Unchain Our Children. Proceeds will also go towards giving the new place of safety a facelift.

According to councillor Tim Denny, who saw a need to create a safe house, the children’s safe haven will be run together with Unchain Our Children and Alberton Child Welfare.

“This is an ongoing thing for the rest of our lives because there is a great need. I’m looking for a five-year commitment from corporates or individuals, who will assist in keeping this place stable and ongoing. My next vision is another house for Unchain our Children, but it will be in Mulbarton,” he said.

Denny assured that different stakeholders will join hands to achieve one goal of protecting the little ones.

ALSO READ: Plan of action to keep young victims of abuse safe

Organiser Nina McFarlane and Ward 106 committee members thanked all businesses and individuals that made the charity golf day event a success.

Service to the community

Dalene Bishop of The Teddy Bear Clinic reiterated that Unchain Our Children will be the service providers of the new safe house.

“The charity golf day event was the beginning of lots of things to come. Ward 106 recognised a need to create this place and that is why the golf day was hosted, to give birth to funding for this new place of safety,” explained Bishop.

Wayne van Onselen of Unchain Our Children stressed that this will be a springboard place of safety.

“The concept of the springboard is that the child needs an immediate place to go to when their safety is secured, either by law enforcement or social workers. Usually, over weekends all hell breaks loose and there’s nowhere for a child to go,” van Onselen said.

He also said they will follow the route of having family ambassadors or temporal foster parents who will house and care for the children.

ALSO READ: Plan of action to keep young victims of abuse safe

“They are going to be identified and will be strictly vetted. During those court proceedings, a child will be placed in the care of whoever qualifies for the criteria of that particular child. The springboard place of safety will be a non-denominational, non-racial and non-political place,” said van Onselen.

Linette Linvelt of Unchain our Children told the RECORD that the temporal safe house will possibly be a blueprint, with which its services will likely be taken outside of Alberton.