AWARENESS
We try to educate the public about the dangers of giving money to street children through editorial in the print media, advertisements on radio, our website and I Care publications. We present talks at local schools through interact clubs and also engage with teachers and pupils at community schools creating an awareness around the dangers of living on the streets.  We are very involved in Child Protection Week and events like Mandela Cheezekids.

 OUTREACH
The main reason for children leaving their homes is abuse, followed by poverty and dysfunctional families. Most children come from the Inanda area.  We work with children on the streets building relationships with them and then encourage them to attend various life changing programmes at our drop in centres.

We have identified a huge need for drop in centres in neigbouring KZN cities, modelled on our Hope Centre in Greyville in KZN and most recently, Brixton in JHB.  An immediate need has been identified in Stanger and Pietermaritzburg, where numerous children frequent the streets. I Care has been contacted by concerned citizens to assist in these areas.We hope to secure local support and premises for drop-in centres really soon and will keep you informed of our progress.
 

REHABILITATION

We have been blessed with a wonderful rehabilitation centre,Umuzi, in Kwa Makhutha south of Durban which has the capacity to take 20 children at a time into our rehabilitation programme. The course focuses on life skills and addresses issues such as substance abuse, physical abuse, HIV & AIDS, anger management and many others.
We are currently running our 11th Khuthaza - New Life - rehabilitation programme at this centre.  From here it is established whether children are able to return to their immediate or extended families or whether they will be housed and educated by I Care.

HOUSING
Our three houses in Lower Illovo, south of Durban have the capacity to accommodate 18 boys and they are full!  We are at a point where further housing is needed and are in the process of looking for suitable accomodation.  Each house has a house parent who is assisted by a volunteer from Be More.

EDUCATION
15 boys are educated at the I Care Christian School based at Mother of Peace in Lower Illovo.  Some of the boys follow the ACE method of education bringing them up to speed on their basic numeracy and literacy skills.

Another of our boys attends The Durban School for the Hearing Impaired and 2 more attend St Raphael's Special Needs School in Yellowwood Park.

We continue to care for our boys that return home to families and currently have 48 boys attending local community schools.  We provide them with school uniforms as well as all their stationery and visit the teachers once a month for an update on their progress.

SKILLS / JOB CREATION
We have two boys working at Armstrong Construction and one at SA Fastners.  We have another boy attending a welding course and will soon be looking for a boilermaker position for him - please contact us if you are able to assist in this regard.  Another boy has just completed his travel and tourism diploma through PAX College and we appeal for assistance in placing him in the workplace as a matter of urgency.