I Care keeps street children safe in lockdown

AS the nation faces an extended lockdown period, 35 former street children and 11 house parents from I Care have been in total lockdown since 18 March. The organisation has their work cut out for them, keeping the children busy while everyone is stuck indoors. They are housed in three I Care houses as well as the Umuzi Rehabilitation Centre. I Care has been rehabilitating, educating and offering skills development to boys off the Durban streets for the past 18 years.

“We are blessed to have a contingent of extremely loyal and caring staff who have been instrumental in the care of these children through these trying times. We have to be extremely vigilant in keeping both our children and staff safe and healthy,” said I Care marketing manager, Gail Elson.

To cope with the lockdown, full DSTV packages were installed at each facility and a four-in-one games table was purchased for entertainment.

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“These boys are an amazing and very energetic bunch. All facilities have the necessary education, sanitisation and protection necessary. To keep a strict eye on the boys and staff we are doing regular temperature checks and charting. Our outreach team continues to work during this period of lockdown, providing any urgent needs,” said Elson.

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Among I Care’s programmes is a collaboration with Jump Youth Mission in Buffelsdraai, where six older boys are currently going through a rehabilitation programme with safety and hygiene precautions such as social distancing in place. In a bid to support their community during the lockdown, the I Care aftercare manager has recently delivered 12 food parcels to families in need.

For more info or to make a donation visit the I Care website: www.icare.co.za.