Roxilla

image via http://live4capetown.tumblr.com/

There is a small group of boys who I often see sleeping the day away at the bottom of my road. I know some of them, and one or two of them I have known for many years. These are the street kids we see all over the city and across South Africa – some have no home to go to, while others have chosen the hard life on the streets over the hopelessness of life at home. We see them every day, at traffic intersections, on Long Street, on the side of our roads. Often, we try not to see them, hoping that if we ignore them, they may go away.

The reality of the situation is that these kids won’t be going anywhere. The brave, strong ones will seek shelter and help at organisations such as The Homestead or Ons Plek. These kids may have a hope of getting through school and changing the cycle of despair and poverty. For many others however, a life on the street is often easier – and the more that well-meaning tourists and locals give them food, money and other items that are usually sold for drugs or stolen from them by bigger boys or adults, the more these kids are likely to stay stuck in the cycle of life on the streets.

The good news is that there are a number of organisations that are actively making a difference here in Cape Town, and all over the country. Often with very little funding and support, these groups still continue to work with street kids, and in many cases, they have adapted a holistic approach that works with communities, families, social services, police and the kids themselves.

For Mandela Day this year, it wasn’t hard to decide how I wanted to spend my time. Street kids have always made the biggest impact on me – especially after getting to know two very special boys who I have seen face countless struggles. These kids are still on the street, and hard as it may be to accept it, as hardened street children, their chances are running out.

We shouldn’t only be thinking of helping people on Mandela Day, and it shouldn’t take wet winter days to make us aware of the plight that so many children and adults are living with on a daily basis. To quote Ghandi, we have to be the change that we want to see in the world today. Because if not us, then who?

I have put together a list of organisations who specifically deal with street children, along with a bit of information on what they do and a link or reference for how you can help each organisation.

Choose one, or find something that you feel passionately about, and make a difference in a way that will save or change a life. Don’t do it because it’s Mandela Day, don’t do it because it’s expected of you, do it because you care enough to do something for someone else.

Street Kids Initiatives – How to Help

There are a number of great iniatives, all of which are doing amazing things in our communities. For full details on each organisation, check out the links provided. Donations and other ways to help are also linked in each section.

1. The Homestead Projects for Street Children

Website: http://www.homestead.org.za/
Tel: (021) 419 9763
Email: info@homestead.org.za
Donations: click here
Volunteer: click here

The Homestead is based on developmental principles, offering a continuum of projects for boys of all ages, both on and off the streets, which address the needs of street children and their families. Through these projects, children can grow towards competence and self-confidence in their lives. From street work and intake shelters, through more settled residential and educational care, to family reconstruction services, The Homestead gets children off the streets and helps them rebuild their lives and their futures.

2. Ons Plek Projects for Girls

Website: http://www.onsplek.org.za/
Tel: (021) 465-4829
Email: onsplek@new.co.za
Donations: click here
Volunteer: click here

Each year almost 100 – 150 girls between 6 and 18 years leave home to fend for themselves on the streets of Cape Town. Ons Plek provides a safe, nurturing environment for girls living on the street, while also resettling them for a life off the streets and providing vocational training to enable these girls to strive towards a brighter future.

3. Western Cape Street Children’s Forum

Website: http://sites.google.com/site/wcscfsa/home
Tel: (021) 4199763
Email: wcstreetchild@gmail.com
Programmes: click here
Donations: contact Paul Hooper at wcstreetchild@gmail.com

The WCSCF represents most if, not all of the professional Street Children Organisations in the Western Cape. Through a number of projects, the WCSCF effectively engages government, business, the wider community, other sectors, as well as service providers towards the provision of practical solutions to the very challenging issue of Street-affected Children.

4. StreetSmart South Africa

Website: http://www.streetsmartsa.org.za
Tel: (021) 418 0621
Email: streetsmart@eqweb.co.za
Donations: click here
Get Involved: click here

StreetSmart raises money via participating restaurants, and distributes this money directly to established organisations with the experience and facilities to help children who are living on the streets. Participating restaurants display a StreetSmart card on the table informing patrons that a voluntary R5.00 donation will be added to their bill. They will have the option to give more than R5.00 (or not give at all). StreetSmart also educates diners about the dangers of giving handouts to street kids rather than assisting through an organisation that actively aims to address the issues of street children in South Africa.

5. LifeXchange – Youth Development

Website: http://www.lifexchange.co.za
Tel: (021) 785 2537
Email: info@lifexchange.co.za
Donations: click here
Get Involved: click here

Life Exchange is a registered specialized youth-at-risk intervention organization, comprised of full time staff, part time staff, volunteer mentors, members of the public and companies that want to make a change. Core projects include the Holistic Life Mentoring Process (HLMP) which is a combination of extreme sports, mentoring and support networking. Through this unique type of mentoring, troubled youth are able to have the opportunity for shared learning experiences and a chance at achieving their dreams.

So What Now?

Once you have had a look through this list of organisations dealing with troubled youth and street kids, you can either choose one organisation to support, or make a small donation of even R5-R20 to each organisation. If you have time to spare and want to make a difference in a more involved way, then consider volunteering – the rewards that can be enjoyed from working directly with children at risk are massive!

Another great resource for ways to help can be found over at Live 4 Cape Town. If you wish to learn more about the current state of street kids in Cape Town, make a visit to The Homestead or visit the Western Cape Street Children’s Forum online for facts and statistics.