DESPITE the financial challenges experienced by child protection organisation, Uviwe Child and Youth Services, owing to the nationwide lockdown, they recently established their ‘Leave No Child Behind’ campaign to continue helping those in need.
According to transport and facilities manager, Clancey Murison, the non-profit organisation, previously known as PE Child Line, had taken a huge knock, due to the nationwide lockdown regulations and had seen their learner numbers at their facilities based in Schauderville, Gelvandale and Gelvan Park decrease drastically.
Before the start of the lockdown, the number of learners at the early childhood development programme was 123. Since then, the numbers have gradually reduced and there are currently only 40 learners.
The number of learners registered for the Girls and Boys’ Club, an after-school programme offered to teenagers, was 103 but has decreased to 20.
Murison said the lockdown regulations had also negatively affected their 38 staff members, due to the financial loss after the parents of their learners stopped paying their children’s monthly fees, which amounted to R450 per child.
“The parents of our learners were heavily hit by the lockdown and they were therefore not able to pay the monthly fee which meant that the staff had to work short time once the facilities were allowed to open again,” said Murison.
He further said since the start of the lockdown, the organisation had lost approximately R85 000 each month.
Murison said he feared that the organisation would have to embark on mass retrenchment and job losses.
“I worry that the organisation will not have enough funds which could jeopardise our programmes and in turn the learners will not be able to receive adequate education.
“This could also result in the closure of certain sections or departments,” he said.
Despite the organisation’s financial pressure, they are aware that while the world focused on the current health crisis due to COVID-19, vulnerable children and unemployed youth have been impacted by the knock-on effects of the nationwide lockdown and regulations.
They have therefore embarked on a COVID-19 action plan to ensure that no child is left behind.
According to Anna-Louise Olivier, the director of Uviwe, the threefold action plan included providing immediate relief for children affected by hunger and poverty during lockdown, by collecting and distributing food parcels to families in Schauderville, Gelvandale, and surrounding areas.
“We have also partnered with local soup kitchens and shelters to help those in need, specifically the children who previously benefited from daily meals at the early childhood development programme and Girls and Boys’ Club,” said Olivier.
As part of their action plan, the organisation has also focused on restoring opportunities for the vulnerable children by continuing their online education and awareness programmes on prevention and supporting those who test positive to COVID-19.
Lastly, they plan to renew their early childhood development programme and Girls and Boys’ Club by digitising their programmes to connect with their learners and ensure that they receive the necessary education.
Olivier said they plan to use digital platforms as an integral part of all their educational and developmental programmes, specifically providing e-learning in all their programmes.
“Development is critical in making digital transformation an integral part of how we equip vulnerable young people for the journey of life,” said Olivier.
The organisation is hopeful that they will receive sponsorships for their COVID-19 action plan to continue helping those in need.
