Education support for children in South Africa

Summary

THANK YOU for your support of Maranatha Care Children! Many children in South Africa are out of school, and where we work in the Eastern Cape, only 26% finish secondary schooling. Our primary project, the Siyakatala Care Centre, provides residential care for children & young people from age 4 to 19 years old. We aim to open doors for these children to receive specialist schooling, remedial support and additional therapy, meeting their assessed needs and accomplishing what we know can be possible

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Although young people can attend school in South Africa, many children in care have missed out on education, especially when having spent time living on the street. In the Eastern Cape only 38% of children under five are exposed to an Early Childhood Development programme (of any kind) at home, and this lack of stimulation in the early years has long-lasting effects. Some children have never been to school when coming to Siyakatala (even at the age of 15) and they need urgent specialist support.

How will this project solve this problem?

We wish to provide the educational support that all children we care for require and help them overcome the disadvantage that they have experienced. It is clear that with a lack of finances for many NPO's in South Africa such visions become hard to achieve. When funds are available, Siyakatala will place children who need specialised education in schools that give them the best opportunity to develop.

Potential Long Term Impact

Our central ethos is long term involvement. We want to empower and protect children and young people to integrate into society and become independent. The youth of today become adults of tomorrow and it makes political and social sense to invest in their development. We want to invest in education and create positive role models which will reduce poverty & inequality and create positive pathways for young South Africans in the long term.

Project Message

One boy, involved with gangs & drugs, came to Siyakatala and received home schooling, therapy & secondary school sponsorship. We assisted him to join the Navy and he went on to study law at University
- Dr Trudi Basson, Project Leader - Siyakatala Care Centre

Resources

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