In January, the non-profit Orion embarked on a new journey to provide residential care and a safe haven to children with disabilities.
Acting CEO Mary-Ann Rhodes explained at the launch on Thursday 29 June that a sixth group home was earmarked to provide this service to 16 children from different areas and various backgrounds.
“The process, in partnership with the Department of Social Development, started immediately, and after many discussions and processes, was finalised in March,” she said. Since then Orion equipped the house and got it ready for the first child’s arrival.
Orion, which is based in Atlantis, has operated since 1982 and provides a health, wellness and psychosocial service to people with disabilities.
Thanks to financial assistance from the Western Province Nomads the house was furnished in record time.
Furniture, including fire-retardant beds and curtains, built-in cupboards, a double door fridge, laundry equipment, blankets and even an inverter system to ensure the children will never be without electricity during load-shedding periods, were acquired.
Pauline Steenkamp, senior marketing and fundraising officer at Orion, said: “On a sunny autumn morning, our first child arrived in April and to date we have eight boys in our care.”
The house is expected to fill up by September. “Today we are proud to open our Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) officially, which is a first for Orion and Atlantis,” Steenkamp said on the day.
“We endeavour to provide a safe space and a family home to our CYCC children. Our CYCC caregivers are doing an amazing job to provide care and service to our new family members.”
According to Rhodes the new addition to Orion could not have been done without the support of their donors including the Western Province Nomads. She thanked the organisation for the “huge contribution towards the CYCC and hope to have an everlasting relationship.”
Orion’s core offerings include a children’s day care centre, adult day care centre, a protective work centre, an art centre and residential care to 79 adults in five group homes.
