ELCYCC (East London Child and Youth Care Centre)

The East London Child and Youth Care Centre have been in existence since 1924. In the early years, emphasis was placed on custodial care, i.e. feeding, clothing, education and housing the orphans of war. The Home was in the Malcomess House, which was run as a large institution.

Twenty-Two years ago, the Children’s Home acquired 5 houses in areas around the city. The children are now housed in group-homes, to create a hild-friendly environment. They range in ages from birth to 18 years. Each home can care for approximately 11 to 13 children. Most of the children in care are from disadvantaged communities, or dysfunctional families, and have been severely neglected; these include our HIV positive children. On average, there are around 121 children in full-time care.

The services of the East London Child and Youth Care Centre have developed over the last 84 years from purely residential care programmes to include community-based programmes focused on prevention and early intervention. A child should only be institutionalised as a last resort, and the emphasis is on keeping the child in his/her own environment.

In the nearby Fort Grey informal settlement, the Ubuntu Care, Development and Empowerment Centre was established in 1999. The centre provides a one-stop facility, where the community can come for support, guidance and assistance when in crisis (rape, drug abuse, violence, family problems, etc.). The centre provides aftercare facilities for children from the Sinomonde, Fort Grey and Santa Primary schools. A childcare in schools programme is operating in Willow Park School and Fort Grey Primary. An HTA Project (High Transmission Area) is also provided in this area. The Isibindi programme was launched in Fort Grey and Ncera Village three in March 2008.

In March 2008 the directors of the House on the Rock Section 21 Company approached the East London Child and Youth Care center to assist in managing the Centre. After consultation with the Department of Social Development it was agreed that we would manage the center until a long-term solution was found.

The services and programmes offered are diverse and adapted to the needs of the community served by the East London Child and Youth Care Centre. The Centre aims to not duplicate services, but network with existing organisations where possible in order to provide comprehensive services throughout the community.