Dutch youth are
back at care centre
By Tabisa Mntengwana
22 October 2008
A GROUP of Dutch youngsters is back in town for three weeks, to continue with the refurbishment and upgrading of the King William’s Town Youth and Child Care Centre.
More than 100 orphaned and abandoned children are accommodated at the centre. Most of them are still at school and with the help of the centre they are transported to school everyday.
The centre cares for youth at risk up to the age of 18; this includes “behavioural, family or other problems. At times the centre returns the young person either to their family or to foster placements within their community,” said the centre’s Heather Schriber.
During the first visit of the Leiden Youth Brigade, in 2006, the visitors upgraded the Phand'ulwazi Life Centre, the skills training facility within the Youth and Child Care Centre. Since then, several more visits have taken place.
This latest trip is part of its ongoing project to renovate and upgrade the centre.
Over-and-above day-to-day care, it also offers developmental projects such as communication skills, arts and craft skills, and other visual art skills to young people through Phand’ulwazi.
Arriving in East London on Monday, 20 October, Muriel Bosman, the youth brigade co-ordinator, said: “Our main aim while here is to serve the people of Buffalo City in any way that we can and this time it is to refurbish and renovate the centre.
“This will also help our youngsters to get to know the South African community and experience the country during a beautiful season.”
During their time off, they will go horse riding and on game drives at Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve. “The youth will not only work while they are here. They will also enjoy a different environment such as game reserves and watching the sunset,” Bosman said.
The group planned to visit community schools and distribute food parcels and give motivational talks to children. “Since most of them are Christians we are planning to visit local churches on Sundays.”
The visit will culminate with a trip to the Addo Elephant Park.
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