In an effort to improve the lives of destitute and vulnerable groups, MEC for Human Settlements, Safety and Liaison, Helen Sauls-August will hand over six Foster Care units in Lusikisiki.

Lusikisiki is one of the towns in the OR Tambo region with most child headed households. The six stable units will ensure 36 orphans and vulnerable children are placed within a community based home environment. The facility will be run in partnership with the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Church which donated the land to build the foster care homes.

The department has collaborated with the Department of Social Development in assisting in the building and renovating of foster care homes for children in need of care and support, safe homes for abused women and children and shelters for destitute adults and children living in the streets. A total of five homes and shelters have been assisted by the department so far.

Various sessions to inform the community and potential Volunteers and Foster Parents were conducted in Lusikisiki and a Training session on Cluster Foster Care was held in Mthatha last year. Recruitment, screening and training of 6 Foster Parents, the designated Social Worker who will be the Supervisory Social Worker for the 36 children has been done. The project will be funded through Foster Care Grants as well as funding from the Department of Social Development and the AFM Executive Welfare council.

SOURCE: South African Official News