To provide total care for physically, mentally & sexually abused children as well as abandoned and HIV babies.

Project Beneficiaries Children from birth to 12 years

Funding Requested A contribution toward funding for general running expenses and our special projects.

During the first six months of 1997 more than 22,000 cases of rape, sodomy, indecent assault, incest, abduction and kidnapping were reported at the Child Protection Unit of the SAP Services. In the Waterberg area alone, 76 cases were reported – keeping in mind that most cases go unreported. The situation had not improved with time and so the desperate need for a facility in the Limpopo Province to accommodate sexually abused, neglected, abandoned and traumatized children was clear. The government alone could not cope with the present situation and the community of Bela-Bela came together in 1996 and in September 1997 Home Tekna was established to provide a secure and stimulating environment for children in need.

The home has been constituted and is managed by an elected management committee and since 1997, 644 children have been accommodated. We are registered to accommodate 46 children and at the moment we have 37 children in our care.

Home Tekna received registration as a Place of Safety cum Children’s Home. We receive a government subsidy. Unfortunately this falls far short of our needs, and although we do receive a great deal of support from our local community, we still require the support of organizations such as you to keep our heads above water.

We have also implemented a Safe Haven project for children in need of shelter and care over a short period of time, e.g. children who have absconded from institutions or their homes and children who require protection whilst giving crucial evidence in court.

We have also devised an In-service training programme, which provides training and guidance for potential housemothers and caregivers. This program is highly successful.

The aim of Home Tekna is to:

• protect the interests of children

• promote the well being of children and their families among all people

• facilitate the development of human capacity, quality of life and self-reliance within a caring and enabling socio-economic environment

To implement the project within the following principles:

- Accountability and responsibility

- appropriateness

- empowerment

- normalization

- family preservation

- focus on prevention and early intervention

- community participation

- respect for integration, equity and cultural diversity

- effectiveness and efficiency

- protection of children’s rights

- quality service

- continuous care and development

The objectives of Home Tekna are to:

• take all necessary actions in the achievement of the above aims

• encourage and assist efforts aimed at re-integrating and stabilizing family life and improving the social, physical, emotional and educational environment of children

• take steps to bring about the removal of conditions detrimental to the moral, mental and physical well-being of children

• co-operate and network with government, and other organizations and institutions in all matters relating to child welfare

• Implement charitable activities consisting of the provision of board and lodging, safety and stability, therapeutic intervention and other necessities, comforts and amenities to children referred to the Home by a Children’s Court Order.