We provide care and protection for as many as 20 new abused, abandoned and neglected children every day. Where possible we counsel a child's biological parents, but often, substitute care for a child has to be arranged due to the inability of the parents to give them the love and care they so desperately need. Many of these children are HIV positive or have full-blown AIDS, which makes it particularly difficult to arrange substitute care for them. 
 

CATTS (Child Abuse Treatment & Training Services) This unit specialises in the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, providing legal protection for the child as well as treatment and rehabilitation for both the child and the child abuser, where possible. The service works closely with the FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection, Sexual Offences Unit) of the South African Police Service, and has established a working relationship with the justice department in order to help guide victims of sexual abuse through the trauma of a court appearance. CATTS also offers training for professionals and members of the community who deal with victims of child sexual abuse.

Would you like to help CATTS with a donation? Just click the appropriate link.

Thembalethu Life Skills Centre

Thembalethu Life Skills Centre has been operating since 1994 under the auspices of CATTS. It initially only provided basic care for girls who lived on the streets - meals, medical care, washing facilities and counselling - but the main objective now is to change the circumstances and the attitudes that make these girls return to living on the streets by offering the girls a healthier, more positive alternative lifestyle. Where possible, we also try to re-unite girls with their families.

Thembalethu offers sewing, cooking, hairdressing, home nursing, dress making and craft courses to the girls, allowing them to build skills that they can use to earn money when they leave the centre. Many of the girls Thembalethu has trained now earn a living by making their own hand-made crafts.

Would you like to help the Thembalethu Life Skills Centre with a donation? Just click the appropriate link.