What we do

Uitkoms is staffed by a highly qualified, dedicated, and passionate team. This team consists of a social worker, a housemother, an administration officer, an ABET (Home Schooling) facilitator/Auxiliary Social Worker, a driver, and one general assistant. Together, this team provides a caring, nurturing, and loving environment for the girls.

The girls receive healthy meals, and live in a safe and well-maintained premises.

On average, fifty children are catered for during the course of each year. A registration certificate from the Department of Social Development determines the number and type of children who may be accommodated.

We strive, at all times, to provide optimum medical care for all our girls. Some of the girls are pregnant when admitted – and when girls aged 14 or 15 give birth, there is a high risk to both the mother and the baby. These children have no idea how to plan, what to expect, or how to care for their infant. The resident social worker and the housemother provide anti-natal care. They instruct, prepare, and support the girls, before and after confinement.

The social worker holds individual and group counselling sessions with all the girls, according to their individual needs. When necessary, girls are referred to, more specialised, external therapists.

The home plays an important role in the effective rehabilitation of young women, including (but not only) those who are pregnant (sometimes through rape), who have been severely traumatised, neglected and abandoned and, in so doing, offers a unique and valuable service to the community at large.

Key points concerning our approach to social development:

• An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is drawn up for each girl.
• Psychological evaluations and therapy are sought externally, when required.
• Group work, aimed at strong life skills development, are undertaken. The girls also receive training, on an ongoing basis, for the development of interpersonal skills, as this plays an important role when it comes to re-integration with society.
• A strong emphasis is placed on the development of inner strength and control for each girl.
• Behaviour modification is employed in cases where poor behaviour is present.
• Regular panel meetings are held, and re-unification with the family is encouraged whenever possible.
• Pregnant girls are extensively counselled, especially in regards their unborn babies. Thereafter, all the necessary planning for the care of the baby is done. Support is provided to mothers who wish to keep their child, and babies are either put in foster care with a family member, or placed in unrelated foster care or, as an alternative, in a local Children’s Home – where possible, a bonding process may be adopted between the young mother and her child.

Adoption is usually classified as a last resort. Placements are arranged, whichever option is decided upon. Should adoption be the only option, all adoptions are arranged by the NG Church, Highveld Synod in Kempton Park.

Uitkoms prides itself in ensuring that the girls in our care are provided with a high quality education. It is important to gear each girl in a direction that suits the image of what they may want to do when they are older. Every girl, abused or not, has a dream, and we place ourselves in a position to help get them there.

Where possible, our girls attend schools local to us. Those who are confined to the home attend daily, structured classes. The ABET Educational and Literacy Programme is presented by a trained facilitator who fosters a culture of self-development, self-belief, and entrepreneurship. Computer Literacy, telephone, and basic business skills, such as business ethics and etiquette, are also taught to the girls.

Much emphasis is placed in home schooling for those residents who cannot attend local schools due to their pregnancy or the fact that they may not be able to cope in a mainstream environment. Examinations are written, and certificates are obtained by the Independent Examination Board (IEB).

Furthermore, we hold various workshops for arts and crafts, as well as career building. We arrange exposure to the various career opportunities in the community, such as hairdressing, beauty therapy, and other similar occupations.

We also take the girls out on several educational outings and excursions to various places of interest.

Lastly, practical life skills, such as cooking, knitting, and the responsible handling of cash are also taught to the girls.