Project: James House - Houtbaai
MAMA: Kaashifa
Started in: 1986
Partner since: 2006
Location: Townships of Hout Bay, Western Cape
Number of children: 1.000 (supported by MAMAS), 4.000 (total)
Special: The people of the poor township are looking to the houses of the rich South-African people and tourists. And the other way around...
James House - Hout Bay
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James House - Hout Bay
Project: James House - Houtbaai
MAMA: Kaashifa
Started in: 1986
Partner since: 2006
Location: Townships of Hout Bay, Western Cape
Number of children: 1.000 (supported by MAMAS), 4.000 (total)
Special: The people of the poor township are looking to the houses of the rich South-African people and tourists. And the other way around...
James House was named after the first child in need of care that came to the centre, called James. Its programmes include a unique Residential Treatment Centre (RTC) for teenagers with social, emotional, psychological and behavioural challenges and the BEST Boys & Girls Programme including in-house, multi-grade independent schooling which addresses the educational gaps and continued progress of the child. Other programmes include the Isibindi model which has a strong presence in the community and schools.
A great contrast: on the one side the beautiful and touristy Hout Bay and on the other side the grinding poverty of the townships Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg where children grow up with next to nothing... James House offers the children and teenagers from these townships a safe place to be carefree and to build a future.
Almost 900 neglected children are welcome in James House’s Safe Parks for some carefree playing, eating and learning. James House also offers children tangible support in their home situation by providing food parcels, education, clothing, advice and therapy and training for parents and caregivers. Teenagers and young adults work with a programme that prepares them for a job or further education. They develop skills, confidence and a vision for the future. James House was approached by Department of Social Development to implement a model of child care which worked very well and has been rolled out to other parts of the country. James House itself has rolled it out to an area in the Northern Cape called Vrenendal as an expansion project.
As a designated child protection organisation, James House facilitates a safety-net for at-risk children in the community. The focus is on preventing any harm coming to children but the MAMAS also have the support of professional counsellors, social workers and psychologists to avert any social crisis and build the care capacities of families. James House is nationally recognised as the leader in providing interventions for adolescents with exceptionally difficult to manage behaviour caused by trauma and abuse and runs two residential treatment centres.
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