By Religion Mazibuko, MEC for Social Improvement in Gauteng
In a society the place youngsters proceed to bear the brunt of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment, Baby and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) stand as important sanctuaries of hope and therapeutic.
These centres are extra than simply shelters—they’re structured, rehabilitative environments the place the rights, dignity, and potential of each youngster are protected and nurtured.
In Gauteng, the Division of Social Improvement performs a pivotal position in making certain these services not solely exist but additionally ship high quality care in step with the Kids’s Act 38 of 2005.
The Act defines CYCCs as services offering residential care to greater than six youngsters outdoors their household surroundings, providing tailor-made programmes to fulfill every youngster’s particular wants.
This broad class contains youngsters’s properties, non permanent secure care, reform colleges, colleges of trade, and safe care centres.
Whereas the settings might range, the aim stays the identical: to guard and rebuild lives. Kids positioned in CYCCs usually are not there by probability.
These are youngsters who’ve skilled unimaginable circumstances—abandonment, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or trauma.
Some are in battle with the legislation; others come from households unable to handle their behaviour. Many are victims of substance abuse, trafficking, or home violence.
Probably the most commendable points of Gauteng’s CYCC programmes is the give attention to unbiased residing programmes, significantly for older youngsters transitioning out of care.
Making ready these younger individuals to re-enter society with sensible life expertise, emotional resilience, and social competence displays the Division’s long-term dedication to their future.
Instructional and leisure programmes—together with sports activities, drama, indigenous video games, and sufferer empowerment classes—contribute considerably to holistic improvement. These usually are not luxuries; they’re important interventions that restore a way of normalcy, goal, and pleasure to youngsters who’ve identified little of it.
In keeping with the Gauteng Division of Social Improvement, there are 150 accredited CYCCs within the province. Of those, 141 are run by non-profit organisations (NPOs) and 9 are government-run. In some centres, the Division supplies subsidies for administration, social work, and youngster and youth care posts.
Allow us to recognise and help the life-changing work going down in CYCCs throughout Gauteng. Each youngster, no matter their background, deserves the chance to pursue a dignified and hopeful future.
As we observe Baby Safety Week and Month, allow us to additionally take a second to understand the tireless efforts of those centres and their devoted groups in safeguarding the wellbeing of our most susceptible residents—our youngsters.
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