10/10/2006

GLUE TO GOALPOSTS - How sixteen street kids turned into soccer stars

Years of sniffing glue had so badly affected their bodies that some of the boys looked like rag dolls flapping across the football field. Six months later the same boys were striding it out, blocking and striking with agility, strength and confidence. Such is the power of nurture.

STREET SOCCER STARS MEET MANDELA

On Friday morning sixteen boys woke up with one thing on their mind. They were getting on a plane at Cape Town International and flying to Johannesburg to meet Mandela at his office in Houghton.

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02/08/2005

PETRUS VISITS THE HOMESTEAD

Petrus voted with his feet at age 12 by coming to the streets. He had a dream- to be a policeman- and The Homestead helped him to reach it. Now 26, he is a SAPS officer. He could so easily have been on the other side of the law if he wasn’t given a chance.

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26/05/2005

"LET'S FIX IT" COMES TO YIZANI DROP IN CENTRE

On 26th May 2005 Yizani underwent a complete transformation, thank to the e-tv programme - Let's Fix It - and its inspirational host, Soli Philander. Soli was the guest speaker at The Homestead's AGM last year, and his words of encouragement meant a lot to the boys.

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THE SHELTER GETS A FACE-LIFT

Thanks to a local Trust, the entire Intake Shelter was painted inside and out in November. All the internal rooms are now a calm yellow and it looks much more spacious. We are very fortunate to have two experts in paint techniques, who have offered their skills for free and are in the process of painting wonderful sea scenes on the walls. This will be a work in progress to be completed within the first few months of 2006.

CONSTRUCTION OF A LOCKER ROOM FOR THE SHELTER

In terms of the Minimum Standards of Child and Youth Care, every child in residential care should have a private space in which to keep his possessions. This has always been a problem at The Intake Shelter as there was not enough space to put any lockers. Now the Netherlands Embassy has undertaken to fund the building of an outside room with built-in lockers for the boys! This project will be completed by the end of March 2006.

PARTY TIME

Sixty boys from Yizani Drop In Centre, Homestead Intake Shelter and The Bridge at Elukhuselweni Children's Home had a wonderful treat when Table Bay Hotel organised the open top bus for a five hour trip around the Peninsula, with a stop for lunch and a walk on the beach en route. The boys absolutely loved it!

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HARRODIAN SCHOOL REMEMBERS JOHNNY

Some years ago, Johnny lost his leg in a car accident. The Harrodian School had just visited Cape Town to play sport with the Homestead boys, and they helped to purchase his prosthesis. The school has never forgotten Johnny, or The Homestead, and regularly raise funds to ensure that his prosthesis is in good condition.

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A PROPOSED SOCCER TOUR TO THE UNITED KINGDOM - CAN YOU HELP?

Many of the boys are absolutely passionate about soccer. It is the one thing they are willing to leave the street for! Our Street Worker, Gerald Jacobs, has long had the dream of taking a team to the U.K. The objectives of the tour are:

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FAREWELL TO SHANE EGYPT, COMMUNITY SERVICES MANAGER

We are sad to report that Shane, who has been managing the early intervention and community prevention projects for the past five years, has left The Homestead to take on new challenges in the field of HIV/AIDS. We wish him great success and happiness, and know that he will continue to be involved with the organisation as he has a real passion for the work we do. Shane will be replaced by Vernon Endley, who starts his new job at The Homestead in January 2006.

KHAYELITSHA COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPONSORS EDUCATION NEEDS

As part of the early intervention project for disadvantaged children in Khayelitsha, Lawrance Stemele, our Community Outreach Worker identified a number of children who are out of school for purely financial reasons. As a pilot, their fees and/or uniforms (depending on what the family is able to provide) are being paid for 2006 to keep them in the educational system. For one youth, who has missed too much school to make re-entry to the system viable, skills training in carpentry will be provided. We wish the children luck in their studies next year, and hope that they will work hard to make their dreams come true.

THE A FAMILY HAVE MOVED FROM THE STREETS!

This family, parents and two adorable children, lived on the streets for many years and were well-known by everyone who works in the CBD. The children made a lot of money because they are so cute looking!

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EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF NEW CHILDREN

Two new boys from Belhar, a poor community in Cape Town, slept in the city one night recently. The Yizani boys brought them to the Drop In Centre the next day. After interviews with each boy, their schools in Belhar were immediately contacted.

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REACHING OUT - NETWORKING IS VITAL

One of the shop owners in Long Street has been "working" with me for the last year, assisting me with some of the Street Children. Continuous updates and educating has led the shop owner to make a more worthy contribution to helping them to solve their problems.

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REPORT CARDS

The school report cards of the boys who were transferred to the Shelter in April this year show development and a marked improvement. They have been in Learn To Live bridging school for the past 8 months. It was a wonderful sight to see these boys at the end of year concert dressed as shepherds and angels (!!!) and playing their roles with confidence. Strong communication between the Street Worker and Social Worker in the Shelter has been vital in the process of getting the boys through various stages and supporting them all the way. Baby Jake, who has never been to school in his life, is now a proud and keen learner who loves Maths!

THE SOCCER BOYS DREAM

There is a group of boys who have been so inspired by the possibility of a soccer tour to England next year that they have willingly moved off the streets, have settled into our Children's Home, and are going to school.

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