At Angels’ Care, we are truly committed to the development of the whole child: mind, body and spirit. We truly believe that without access to a high-quality education, social upliftment is not possible.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
Early childhood development during the formative years (from birth to 5) is of utmost importance as this is when the child’s brain undergoes rapid development, laying the foundation for all future learning, behaviour, and health.
It is for these reasons that we run an Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) for 150 children (2 X Grade R, 2x Grade RR and 2x Grade RRR classes), ages 3-6.
Angels’ Care Centre stands as a beacon of hope, offering children from poverty-stricken homes access to safe, nurturing, quality foundational education programmes which would otherwise be out of reach for them due to financial constraints.
The above focal points create an overall sense of security that is crucial to their:
- Growth;
- Well-being;
- Ability to form positive relationships;
- Development of resistance in the face of adversity;
- Path to success;
- Ability to help strengthen and uplift their community.
By investing in quality Early Childhood Development at Angels’ Care Centre, we are uplifting not only individual children but also, ultimately, strengthening communities and economies. Studies consistently show that children who receive quality foundational education are more likely to graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and secure stable employment. Additionally, they are less likely to engage in criminal activities or experience chronic health issues.
Our comprehensive education focuses on:
Interactive play
Structured learning activities
Individualised attention
Well-balanced nutrition
Quality academic programmes
Spiritual & emotional support
Angels Care After-School facilities are a crucial support system for our children by providing nutritious meals, academic support, life skills talks and a safe space.
For many children from underprivileged backgrounds, this may be the only meal they receive during the day, making it a vital component of their overall health and well-being.
We ensure that in these spaces, children have access to resources and an environment that contributes to their holistic development by imparting essential life skills through structured activities and life skills talks. These life skills programmes are run by our health care staff.
Academic support for high school students is just one of the benefits of our after-school programme, as many students have limited access to resources and parental support in their homes. Our after-school programme helps bridge the gap between school and home to ensure that students have the support they need to succeed academically.
As we focus on a holistic education, our after-school programme also offers a soccer and netball league with coaching and support.
Providing a safe space for children to play, learn and engage is essential for their overall well-being and development. Our partnership with Hilton College has meant that our children get to interact and learn from people from a diversity of social backgrounds.
Whilst our long-term goal is to ensure children who receive help at Angels Care can receive a wholesome meal daily, we currently have a weekly feeding program that provides food for approximately 310 children.
We provide daily meals to 160 School Children and 150 children that take part in our youth development program. Every Saturday morning we feed 350 children. They receive two sandwiches, yogurt and fruit. Our health and crisis care team also assists any children in need.
A well planned menu is provided for all school learners attending educational programmes at the Centre to ensure they receive a balanced nutritional diet.
To monitor the individual progress of the ECD children, their height, weight and general health is measured monthly throughout the year. This consistent monitoring enables our staff to ensure optimal growth and identify children who may suffer from chronic diseases.
What We Provide:
Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwiches
Fruit
Yoghurt
Any Other Donations Received During That Week
Angels’ Care is uniquely focused on caring for children of abuse in the Howick area in the KZN Midlands within the Umngeni local municipality. The need for such a facility exists as sexual offences committed against women and children have reached alarming levels in South Africa.
The Centre provides children and their caregivers with access to every form of assistance they would require in the event of their being victims of any forms of gender-based violence (GBV) including rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, neglect, physical abuse, or mental trauma. We also have services for children affected by grief due to losing loved ones to chronic diseases such as HIV, TB or violence.
Angels Care opened The Health & Crisis Centre in July 2015 to help children who are survivors of gender-based violence, abuse and neglect.
HEALTH CARE
Angels’ Care has employed a Forensic Nurse and an Enrolled Nurse, who, together, provide general health care to all children who attend programs at the Centre. Their services include:
Medical preparation of the patient/survivor such as vital signs, relevant tests (pregnancy, HIV, STI) and specimen-taking.
Signing of consent forms, and medical orientation as stipulated by National and provincial DoH protocols.
Treatment of, and referral when necessary, of sick children and staff members to the clinic.
Treatment of children with minor ailments.
Monthly developmental status assessments for all children who attend educational programmes, including constant monitoring of their height, weight and head circumference; all measures which assist in determining whether the child is reaching age appropriate milestones or may be malnourished or chronically ill.
All child vaccinations are up-to-date.
Physical examination and treatment of victims of sexual or physical assault and neglect.
Medical screening, treatment and counselling for children suffering from HIV and TB.
Contraceptive services for young women.
Support for young mothers and their babies.
Whilst we hope to make a difference in the lives of many indigent children, we also try to focus on the individual needs of each and every child in our care. As part of our social outreach projects in the community, we have managed to change the lives of children through numerous different initiatives. We deliver a wide variety of outreach programmes to local schools and community groups within Howick and the surrounding areas. The talks range from GBV awareness, teenage pregnancy, human rights, substance abuse, and anti-bullying campaigns. Our team also focuses on teenage girls and boys, young mothers and babies. A major aspect of our community outreach is family planning and working with families.
PROVISION OF CLOTHING AND BLANKETS
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has extremely harsh winters with frost almost every morning. Our children who live in extreme poverty have little or no access to warm clothing or blankets and every winter we receive donations from kind people in the community who lovingly knit or donate sweaters, scarves, woollen hats and even make beautiful colourful blankets for us to distribute.
