Sixteen years and counting for drop-in centre

For 16 years and counting, the Toekomsrus Drop-in Centre claims never to have failed to deliver and is still going strong.

This facility has provided quality services to orphaned and vulnerable children for over a decade. They have succeeded in improving the lives of hundreds of people in the community it serves. During the last financial year numerous milestones were reached, including the training of three employees as victim empowerment coordinators, who will assist in cases involving victimisation.

An overall total of 842 people received support and assistance from the centre, 416 of them children. Over and above this total, 458 people were provided with a healthy, hot, cooked meal daily.

Ten HIV/Aids awareness and door-to-door programmes assisted 789 people. These programmes also reached 173 households, which received services provided by the drop-in centre.

“While we have made great strides, achieved much, and look forward to even greater things in the years to come, there is a number of challenges we face,” said programme manager Kenneth Malepe.

“There is a great need for more office equipment. In addition there is a shortage of items such as children’s chairs, tables and kitchen equipment.”

Josephine Symab, orphan care coordinator, who has been working at the drop-in centre for 12 years, said the centre has grown hugely since its establishment.

“It has been a very good experience, we’ve all learnt a lot. It has always been my passion to work with children and to see that they are well looked after,” Josephine said.

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