Kids Haven continues to make an impact
Kids Haven celebrated 23 years of rehabilitating street children on October 13.
To recognise this day, Grade Nine pupil Rachael Jones, from St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, in Boksburg, baked one large cake and more than 200 cupcakes for the organisation.
She spent more than 20 hours baking the cakes as part of her community service.
Jones chose the organisation because of its excellent work in providing shelter for the children in need.
The organisation was founded in 1992, to serve homeless and street children in crisis in the Ekurhuleni region and from Johannesburg.
It is currently home to about 180 children between the ages of six and 18 years, who live in the children’s home in MacKenzie Park and the shelter in Cranbourne Avenue.
Their main centre is located in Benoni, with teams addressing the needs of children throughout the region.
The core focus is pre-in and post-care for street and street connected children, and volunteer engagement is welcome at the shelter and children’s home.
Kids Haven founder Moira Simpson said children living on the streets are some of the most marginalised and unprotected in the world.
“Many of these children are without parental care and have no viable alternatives,” she added.
“Here they have a chance to start over and find their purpose.”
Kids Haven’s vision is to rehabilitate and reintegrate children through its programme of care and advocacy for the rights of the street child.
Simpson added that children admitted to Kids Haven have significant deficits in normal socially acceptable behaviour, as a result of their time on the street, or due to poor parenting and early trauma.
All the work, therefore, focuses on supporting behaviour change and providing the foundation required for good development.
