The local community of Melkbosstrand is invited to bring non-perishable food to the Xen4 Business Coffee Hour in Charity Networking at the Sandown Square Business Park in Blouberg on Wednesday 25 May to assist the Melkbos Care Centre.
Three non-profit organisations in Melkbosstrand – Melkbosstrand Community Centre (established in 2012), Kids 4 Care (established 2007) and Melkbos Care Centre (established 2005) – came together to form the Melkbosstrand Care Centre.
The Coffee Hour is organised by Xen4 as part of their charity networking in the area where they assist with office space and other business solutions.
Melkbos Care Centre is helping to address unemployment in the area by providing study support and provide early development opportunities to children from under privileged households in order to give them equal opportunity to their peers.
According to Karen Dreyer, manager of the Centre, they provide breakfast and snacks to approximately 104 children attending local schools per day and lunch to approximately 50 children per day.
“We transport 104 children to and from school and also provide homework support to children attending the schools in Melkbosstrand that are registered with the Care Centre. This has led to a 50% higher pass rate in the Grade 1 and Grade 2 target group. A total of 21 high school learners benefit from our support and approximately 85 children per annum receive school clothes attending the feeding schemes and homework centre as needed,” she says.
Other services rendered by the Centre include supporting tertiary students through sponsorship procurement and pocket money for life essentials and food. Also early education to about 60 children between the ages of three and six years on a daily basis in an established pre-school.
“Our income is generated by a second-hand clothing shop as well as sponsorships and donations. Our “sponsor a child” project brings in some of the much needed funding, but most of our funds need to be raised by fundraising initiatives. We believe that with just a little help these children can rise above their circumstances. The help that we receive from our sponsors and donors go a long way to ensuring the success of our children’s positive development,” Dreyer says.
- For more information send an email to admin@melkboscarecentre.org or phone 021 553 0980.
