The multipurpose child and youth care facility, Hilary House, a project of The Homestead, based in Khayelitsha, Cape Town officially opened on 6th February.
The Southern African Sustainable Development Initiative (SASDI) was contracted by The Homestead to drive this initiative, which will provide 75 former street children, between the ages of 6 and 18 with a much needed home to enable them to reintegrate into the education system and contribute to society upon reaching adulthood. The Homestead will also provide early intervention and family preservation services at the centre to prevent children from ending up on the streets.
FNB assisted with this project to help uplift the local community and provide a safe-haven for troubled and disadvantaged youth. “We committed to assisting the local community with this project. Over 100 FNB Volunteers assisted in building this home for the children. We believe that this is a phenomenal and meaningful project that will make a huge difference in the community and in the lives of these children,” says Pearl Nel, Western Cape Volunteers programme coordinator.
Sandra Morreira, Director of the Homestead says that, “the completion of the child and youth care facility is the realisation of a dream that has taken us ten years to achieve. The children deserve decent accommodation with the space to play and to be free to develop their talents. We could not have done this without the help of many supporters and donors. The centre will be a great benefit to children and to families at risk for many years to come.”
Commenting on Hilary House, a former street child explained, “I feel safe at this home. There’s lots of room to play soccer, to learn and do activities that young children do.”
The new 2,500m² development includes an early intervention centre, three cottages, a counseling centre and a community hall which will benefit the surrounding impoverished community. The new facility will create a platform for the children in residential care to achieve a higher level of education.
“We wanted to make a sustainable impact in the Khayelitsha community and are thankful to be part of this project. It’s great to see that these kids have their own safe-haven. Together we believe that through this project we were able to make a difference in the lives of these children and the community at large,” concludes Nel.
The Homestead is a registered non profit organisation whose mission is to help street children reconstruct their shattered lives, has been operating in Cape Town since 1982 and has helped hundreds of children to leave the streets, by offering a range of integrated projects to meet their needs.
The SASDI Foundation is a non-profit, public benefit trust and is committed to developing the region in a sustainable and transformational manner. Since 2004, SASDI has been working in partnership with local and international donors, companies, NGO’s, churches and community-based organisations to develop and implement high impact and sustainable projects in the townships of Cape Town.
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