In 2007 Friends in Ireland began construction of an integrated Orphan Care Facility, to be operated in conjunction with the board, members and volunteers of IxaBiso Lomntu community based organisation. The centre is situated in a village called Ndakeni located 25 kilometres north of Flagstaff town, in the Eastern Cape Province. The Centre will comprise of a Drop-In Centre, Crèche/Day Care Facility and potentially two cluster foster homes. Our partner NPO (Non Profit Organisation) IxaBiso Lomntu provide a range of services and programmes to the communities in their area and partner Friends in Ireland’s project targeting Orphan and Vulnerable Children.
In February of 2008, construction of the Drop-In Centre, was completed. Now run with dedication by local volunteers, it provides a Nutrition Programme to 100 orphans and vulnerable children who receive breakfast and dinner, five days a week. This Drop-In Centre also has a food garden which supplements the Nutrition Programme.
The Early Childhood Development Centre, the crèche, opened in June 2008. There are currently 45 orphans and vulnerable children aged 2 to 5 years in attendance. It is staffed by two volunteers who have been trained with TREE (the government recognised ECD training programme) to improve the childcare available to these children. The process of registering the crèche facility with the Department of Social Development is in progress and when registration is completed the crèche facility will be eligible to apply for on going funding from the South African government.
The construction of the two cluster foster homes has been completed and they were recently painted by volunteers from Magis Ireland. The homes are now bright, cheery and once registration is complete they are ready for occupation.
The legal registration of these homes with the Department of Social Development is at the final stage. Once the homes are registered then 12 orphans and vulnerable children can be place legally under the care of the 2 house mothers. |
