EST IN 1895
Our History
Where It All Began
St. Monica's Children's Home (CYCC) situated on the Bluff in Durban is a non-profit, non-government residential facility offering care to vulnerable children who are admitted from the entire KZN region. These children are either orphaned, abandoned or at risk in their home environments and are placed at our Home through a Court of law.
In 1895, the Centre opened its doors, operating from a shack in Umgeni Road in central Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. A missionary from the Anglican Church, Miss Snell, undertook the mammoth task of providing a secure environment and a brighter future to a growing number of young girls who were abandoned by their family members and were found living on the streets.
It was named St. Cyprian's Mission at the time, however over the years, the name was changed several times until St. Monica’s Children's Home (CYCC) was decided upon.
Canon Johnson, the Vicar of St Cyprian's between 1889 -1902, supported and encouraged Miss Snell, a parishioner at the same church in her missionary work. An appeal was circulated to all churches to support this worthy cause and as time passed, support in cash and kind flowed into the shelter.
When the shelter at Umgeni Road could no longer accommodate the growing numbers of girls, the facility relocated to another area and continued to move until the present site was purchased in 1973.
Our Home & Programmes
St. Monica’s Children’s Home is a non-profit, non-government organisation that provides residential care to 84 vulnerable children who have been orphaned, abandoned, or found to be at risk in their home environments from all rural and semi-rural areas throughout Kwa-Zulu Natal. The children are placed with us through the Court of Law according to the Children’s Act No.38 of 2005.
Our Home accommodates children from various religions, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. The children’s ages range from 3 to 18 years for girls and 3 to 12 years for boys. When the boys are 11, investigations into alternate placements are pursued due to our policy. They are admitted to other Homes that are more suited to accommodate adolescent boys.
We strive to ensure a nurturing and protected environment for our children. There are six cottages (6) at the Home that resembles a large family setting which accommodates a maximum of 15 children and 2 or one childcare worker per cottage depending on the age range of our children This allows for our childcare workers to be able to monitor and guide our children in various aspects of their lives.
Our childcare workers are trained professionals who are equipped to supervise and care for the children and ensure their specific needs are met. There are 18 childcare workers who work on a shift basis with one team leader and assistant team leader on each shift. The team leaders provide extra support to the childcare workers in the cottages and assist where needed.
Every child placed with us, receives a formal education through enrolment in crèches, pre-schools, primary schools, and secondary schools. Our children also receive additional classes to help them advance academically. We endeavour to equip our children with the skills they need to succeed in the outside world.
The children receive counselling from our social work sector, who determines each child's developmental requirements and facilitates an action plan with regular input from the respective childcare worker of the child’s cottage.
In addition, a psychologist renders her services voluntarily once a week at the Home to children who are identified by the social work sector as requiring this specific intervention.
We additionally provide a range of non-residential services for our children and their families to improve their quality of life in order to reunite them with their immediate and extended families as well as their communities where possible. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone involved prioritises the child's best interests, whether it is reuniting with their families and communities, if it is safe to do so, or finding an alternative long-term solution.
ST. MONICA'S CHILD & YOUTH CARE CENTRE
Our Centre
Vision Statement
We endeavour to provide a safe and nurturing environment for vulnerable children of all races, faiths, and backgrounds to empower them as valuable members of society.
Mission Statement
Our Home exists to provide a loving and safe environment for the children in our care through developmental programmes, education, health care and social interaction.
We conduct our activities in partnership with religious organisations, government, businesses, foundations, and community stakeholders.
Objectives of Our Home
- 1. To cater for the physical needs of our children.
- 2. To render social work interventions to the children including therapeutic programmes to facilitate the emotional and psychological healing process of the children.
- 3. To render educational programmes to enable the children to develop academically.
- 4. To provide appropriate healthcare for our children.
- 5. To develop self-esteem in children through life-skills programmes.
- 6. To provide social and recreational programmes for our children.
- 7. To provide therapeutic programmes to facilitate reunification, which includes services to families, host families and significant others to enable reintegration into the community.
- 8. To offer After-Care services to our Youth.
Our Board and Administration
The People That Make It Happen
Our Senior Management Team
Director - Althea D. Govender
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work – Honours
Althea has worked in the social work sector for over 30 years and has 15 years’ experience in a childcare residential facility. She has a wealth of experience in working with vulnerable and children at-risk including their families. She has worked with victims and survivors of child abuse, providing therapy to them in a safe setting.
Social Work Manager - Sarisha Naidoo
Bachelor of Arts in Social Works – Honours
Sarisha has worked in the social work sector for over 9 years and has 5 years’ experience in a childcare residential facility. She has vast knowledge and experience working with vulnerable and abused children as well as their families.
Chief Childcare Manager - Doris Shabane
Doris has over 20 years’ experience in the child and youth care sector. She has successfully completed her modules in Child and Youth Care. Doris oversees the entire sector of child and youth care workers who oversees the children. She possesses extensive knowledge and experience working with children.
Senior Administrator - Vijee Pillay
Vijee has worked in administration for 11 years and has 30 years of general administrative experience. She has a diverse portfolio and has completed various training courses over the years. Apart from the supervision of certain administrative tasks, she oversees the maintenance of the Home and ensures that the Home is up to date with all certificates and requirements.
Our Board Members
- Chairperson - Rev. Alvin Sigamoney
- Vice-Chairperson - Mr Don Moodley
- Treasurer - Mrs Kamini Pundit
- Secretary - Mrs Claudette Cadir
- Member - Mr Elwyn Koekemoer
- Member - Mrs Daphne Varda
- Member - Mrs Edith Yon
- Member - Mrs Norma Andrew