Bryanston 011 706 7959, Benoni 011 421 4222 |NPC: 2000/008607/08 | NPO: 004-661 | PBO: 13 00 00 458 hello@kidshaven.co.za
NEWSLETTER August 2023

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
— Michelle Obama

Celebrating women this month, we are reminded of all the women who make Kids Haven a safe and nurturing home.

  • Our women cooks lovingly prepare meals daily for our 36 pre-school children as well as the 164 children and youth living at Kids Haven making sure they have the necessary nutrition to grow and learn.
  • Our women cleaners humbly ensure all our buildings are cleaned so that the children have a clean environment in which to play, sleep, eat and study.
  • Our pre-school teachers and teen hub and youth hub teams nourish our Incare and community children’s minds instilling a sense of discipline and learning.
  • Our house ‘mothers’ love, protect and teach all the children and young people in their care – always patient, generous, and caring.
  • Our fundraising women connect with our wonderful donors, seek out new donors and constantly look for innovative ways to strengthen our financial muscle.
  • Our women board and exco members continuously look for ways to ensure Kids Haven remains a sustainable organisation well into the future.
  • Our women community workers who step up to start food gardens, contact Kids Haven to intervene if a child needs help or protection, and stand up against Gender Based Violence.
  • Our young women who have left Kids Haven and who are holding down good jobs, studying further, raising their own children, and leaving their positive mark on society. We are so proud of every single young woman who leaves Kids Haven feeling capable and strong.  We know that you break the cycle of despair and neglect that you once felt.  We know that you will be strong mothers and wonderful friends to other women you meet.

We salute all our incredible women!

Born Butterflies – giving children a sense of worth.

Born Butterflies is a six- to eight-week programme developed at Kids Haven since 2012 to meet the needs of the Girl Child, who has little support at home, has the bulk of chores to do and most often misses out on school. All these factors contribute to her being vulnerable, explains Adele Pillay, the programme coordinator. “Born Butterflies is a programme that connects girls to their innocence and worth – being ENOUGH -, as we believe that is what they are robbed of when neglected, sexually abused and rejected.”

 While initially started to assist girls, the programme now has a mix of boys and girls ranging in age from 10 to 18 years old. “We realized that boys also struggle with low self-esteem so extended the programme to include them,” she says. “The aim is for children and youth to detach from their childhood pain and create their own identity through values that build their future. We teach them to commit to programmes as that decision allows them to tell a different story once they have processed their pain. It’s also to understand that the reason they are in Care is to heal and is not a punishment. In this safe space they can speak freely about their hurt and disappointment with the choices that the adults in their lives have made – the choices that have left them vulnerable and distrusting of adults.”

There are currently four girls and two boys in the programme.

How you can help

We are always needing the following items – please let adele@kidshaven.co.za know if you can help:

  • Journals or diaries that lock.
  • Stickers of encouragement
  • Coping goodie bags which include: a stress ball, resistance bands for exercise (to be used in a breathing activity to self-regulate) and brightly colored wrist bands to assist participants with grounding exercises.

 

  What our women need and how you can help.

Our Kids Haven women need:

  • Women in business to volunteer their time to either share their experiences with our young women at the Centre in Benoni or invite them to have a day in the office. What we know for sure is that exposure to mentors, role models, and women in work, sparks ideas in our children’s minds and helps them to aim higher and plan proactively for their future. Contact hello@kidshaven.co.za to plan your visit to Kids Haven, or allowing us to bring a small group to visit you at your place of work.
  • Toiletry packs that include roll-on deodorant, body cream, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, and sanitary pads all in a drawstring bag or Ziplock bag.  You can order on line through any shopping app and have them delivered to 34 Cranbourne Avenue, Benoni.
  • Baked cakes and goodies for our Incare children’s birthdays and celebratory days. Please chat to connie@kidshaven.co.za to find out which child’s birthday is next.
  • Pre-loved clothing for our Incare children and young adults with the extra items being sold in our charity shops, supporting another 40 women micro-sellers to care for their own families. Contact us on WhatsApp on 071 860 0505 to arrange your collection, or call 011 706 7959 or email us on hello@kidshaven.co.za
  • Seedlings for our ever-growing number of food gardens in the surrounding communities.  Chat to may@kidshaven.co.za who heads up the Precare team who support the growers.
  • A modest monthly donation of R 150 made consistently every month towards the women who work in the community, supporting mostly single parents to manage their homes and build strong relationships with their children, and facilitating weekly GBV workshops with teens and their mums – breaking the cycle of violence in the home that is so normal for so many. You can find our secure monthly donation form right here or find our bank details on line our website and set up your own recurring EFT.  We will send you an annual tax receipt to claim benefits from SARS.

If you can help in any way, please get in touch with the team at hello@kidshaven.co.za

Get Involved

You can get involved by volunteering, donating money or second hand goods.
If you think your company could help make a difference please contact us.

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