Every day, the courts place young women in care facilities, such as foster families and institutions like ours, as a means to help them reclaim their dignity and build brighter futures so may they become responsible, successful citizens in our ever-dynamic society.

Our Mission

Our primary mission is to “give back our girls their lives”. Through support, anger-management, professional counselling, appropriate therapy, and psychological evaluation, the girls are given the assistance and tools for recuperation and re-integration – a platform from which to start afresh.

Uitkoms offers intensive, holistic, specialised care that caters for physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs. The care encompasses the provision of counselling and educational programmes.

By the implementation of structured life skills and educational programmes, Uitkoms equips these girls for re-integration into their communities, and into a broader society in the future, and, where possible, to find acceptance from their families. We aim to develop the girls into productive, self-sustaining citizens in the future.

Our Proud Achievement

With the help of donor support, including from the church, government, caring organisations, and individuals, we have acted as “foster’s” for hundreds of girls over the last 70 years. Many of our girls have become well-adjusted adults who have taken their place in society by getting jobs, some getting married and leading healthy, wholesome, and right-minded lives.

In December 2014, we received a letter from Sizakele Prince, telling us a little about her life after having left Uitkoms in 1998:

I am now 31 years old, have four children, and am in a relationship with a very loving man. I am now doing very well in life, in terms of work and living and loving life itself. Uitkoms was very helpful towards me as I didn't have anywhere to live, and you very kindly took me in. I'm now a successful woman, and a proud mom to my kids. I will never forget where I came from, and thank you for all you did for me.

We would like to thank every single person who has contributed to helping this become a reality. It's without you that the chances of these girls not leading and living great lives would increase. So, thank you very much!

A Little History

Uitkoms had its beginnings in 1944, when Johanna Terburgh recognised the need for a home to care for young, pregnant girls.

New premises were built in 1970 and, in 1999, we became registered as a Children’s Home and a Place of Safety for abandoned, abused, neglected, raped, destitute, and pregnant teenage girls (including those who were HIV positive).

Since its humble beginnings 70 years ago, Uitkoms does not discriminate based on skin-colour, language, or creed.

Placements

Uitkoms receives request for admission on a regular basis, from the community, Children’s Courts, as well as other Children’s Homes, and services the needs of the greater Johannesburg area and other parts of the Gauteng province.

Uitkoms is one of the very few Children’s Homes in Gauteng that accepts and fully accommodates pregnant teenage girls. As a result, most of the local homes and places of safety refer pregnant girls to us. The Child Protection Unit refers raped and abused girls to us as well.

The Home also serves as a place of safety for teenage girls who have been removed from their parents' care due to neglect, abuse, abandonment, or behavioural problems. Many of the girls remain at Uitkoms whilst awaiting the finalization of their Children's Court case.

Our Certification

Uitkoms Home for Girls is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO 001-180) and qualifies as a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930 006 571) with the South African Revenue Services (SARS).

This allows for a tax benefit to Uitkoms’ donors. Uitkoms may issue Section 18A Receipts for bona fide donations, which allows for donations of up to 10% of taxable income to be deducted from such income, as stated in the Act.

To learn more about how this works, and to view the appropriate certificates, click here.

The Home is recognised as a Level Four Contributor to BEE (Black Economic Empowerment), with 100% recognition. Our BEE certificate can be downloaded from here.

Finances and Funding

With a progressive downturn in the economy, many children’s homes are in a crisis. Recent surveys indicate that there has been a 15% decline in corporate and international funding - the sector has to somehow make good the shortfall.

The average cost for a centre like ours to care for, clothe, and feed a school going child is a little over R3,750.00 per month. The current per capita subsidy received from government is just over R2,200.00 per month. Most centres, like ours, are in a constant battle for continuity, whilst many others have had to reduce the number of children in their care, or even completely close down.

Due to this, Uitkoms is heavily reliant on the public at large to make financial contributions which make a difference, by allowing us to continue delivering the services we do, and to maintain the level of quality of the service provided.

To learn more about contributing to our cause, and how you’ll benefit from doing so, please click here.