New programme offers hope – and generates funds too!

By law, young people may remain in child care facilities until they reach the age of 18, by which time they are considered to have reached adulthood and be capable of living independently and fending for themselves. Youth may remain with us beyond the age of 18 if they are university material and we are able to secure funding for tertiary studies.

Given the lack of employment opportunities for school leavers, we invest time and effort in trying to place our matrics in suitable employment, or at the very least, ensure they have some skill that will start them on the path to a successful career.

With this in mind, we recently introduced a new programme that will enable our older children to gain skills in carpentry, upholstery, welding, plumbing, etc.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, we have been able to convert an old storeroom on the property into a workshop. The idea is that children will work on donated furniture items that are in need of refurbishment, which can then be sold through our Thrift UP shop to generate much needed income for the Home. It’s a win-win solution!