We are committed to the development of the whole child: Body, mind and spirit. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world” and we too believe that without access to a high-quality education there can never be social upliftment. It is for this reason 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.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) education is essential in shaping the future of children, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds. 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.
It is during the formative years, from birth to age five, that a child’s brain undergoes rapid development, laying the foundation for all future learning, behaviour, and health. Our comprehensive education focuses on interactive play, structured learning activities, and individualised attention, ensuring each child is empowered to reach their full academic potential.
Our holistic approach ensures children receive not only age-appropriate, quality academic programmes but also access to well-balanced nutrition as well as spiritual and emotional support. This overall sense of security is crucial for their growth and well-being, making them feel loved and valued. It also lays the groundwork for them to form positive relationships and develop resilience in the face of adversity, setting children on a path to success in school and beyond.
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. By prioritising Early Childhood Development, we are building a brighter and more equitable future for generations to come.
We also have a bridging class that caters for children 5 years and older who have never been to school. This class aims to provide learners with the basic educational tools required for them to later be included in mainstream educational institutions.
Our education programmes always focus on the following key elements:
Hands-on and differentiated lessons and activities delivered by our teachers.
Quality resources and classroom facilities.
Stimulating classroom and outdoor play areas.
Nutritious and wholesome brainfood.
Working closely with the parents and caregivers of the children we educate, ensuring they become part of the learning journey of their child.
Regular health check-ups to ensure the children are able to learn optimally.
Holistic individual psychosocial support.
Angels’ Care After-School facilities serve as a crucial support system for children, offering a nurturing environment that goes beyond mere supervision. In these spaces, children are provided with resources and opportunities that contribute significantly to their holistic development.
One of the benefits of Angels’ Care After-School Facilities is their provision of academic support, mostly for 20 local high school children. Many children face barriers to completing homework assignments at home due to lack of resources, parental support, or a conducive environment. By offering dedicated time and assistance for homework completion, these facilities help bridge the gap between school and home, ensuring that children have the support they need to succeed academically.
Moreover, Angels’ Care After-School Facilities play a pivotal role in imparting essential life skills to children. Through structured activities and life skills talks, children learn valuable skills. These life skills programmes are run by our health care staff who have a wealth of knowledge.
Beyond academics and life skills, these facilities also provide a safe space for children to play and learn. In communities where safety is a concern, Angels’ Care After-School facilities offer a haven where children can engage in recreational activities, interact with peers, and have fun after school under the supervision of caring adults. This safe and supportive environment is essential for children’s overall well-being and development. Our partnership with Hilton College & St. Anne’s has meant that our children get to interact and learn from people from a diversity of social backgrounds.
Additionally, Angels’ Care After-School Facilities recognise the importance of nutrition in children’s growth and development. By providing a nutritious meal, these facilities ensure that children have access to essential nutrients that support their physical and cognitive development. 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 look forward to growing our after school facilities in 2024, with the renovation of the space at the Agricultural hall, both indoors and outdoors.
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.
