Project: Duncan Village 
MAMA: Nomzamo  
Started in: 2001  
Partner since: 2016 
Location: Duncan Village, Eastern Cape
Number of children: 103 (supported by MAMAS), 153 (total) 
Special because: Duncan Village is growing fast. On some days more than 200 children are coming for a plate of food!

Creating a safe and caring community for vulnerable children and youth whose development is at risk, that is the mission of Duncan Village in short. The organization is operating in the Duncan Village community in the Eastern Cape, where children are affected by poverty, aids, neglect and abuse. The MAMAS of Duncan Village have created a safe environment for children to just be, learn, play and develop!

The reality of Duncan Village
Duncan Village is home to an estimated 250.000 people. The high rate of unemployment causes vulnerability and inability for people to shape their future. The surroundings are overcrowded by shack dwellings built from waste material, that regularly get destroyed by recurring disasters as fire and flooding. The serious poverty increases the vulnerability to HIV/Aids infection, the rate of people infected by HIV is escalating. Poverty also leads to school drop outs, teenage pregnancy, child abuse and molestation.

85 children in care
NPO Duncan Village has 85 children in its care, of whom: 42 children have been abandoned, some sick with HIV/TB, with no legal documents; 3 children with a disability, of whom one is wheel chair bound and has been raped; 2 single mothers but needing special schools due to down syndrome condition & heart problems; 22 orphans, fostered by community mothers & grannies, in need of financial and emotional support; 5 children staying with sickly parents and also HIV + themselves (but on ARV treatment);  11 school dropouts that are neglected by their parents.

Pillars of care
Through the care of Duncan Village these 85 children (and indirectly another 120 siblings and cousins) are now assured of daily care and safety. It starts with healthy meals every day in the center and food parcels at home. Second important pillar is education, because that is the way out of poverty. The MAMAS are making sure that every child has an uniform and school necessities. After school the children come to the ‘Safe Park’ where the MAMAS assist them with their homework. Of course there is also time to play and participate in fun activities. A wonderful and necessary alternative for hanging around in the streets… It’s a place where MAMAS are waiting for them en give them personal attention. It’s a place where children do feel carefree and loved!