The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus has led authorities to take necessary measures to ensure citizens’ health and safety. SOS Children’s Villages South Africa is committed to taking all possible steps to protect children, and to assist families in vulnerable situations.
SOS PE’ has a sewing group, which is producing cloth facemasks to be sold to the public as part of their income-generating project. The masks are washable and reusable and are available to the local community at an affordable price. Businesses in the area can also purchase in bulk.
The sewing group is a group of women who transform unwanted denims and other items into recycled and fashionable items that are sold to the public. The women involved in this income-generating programme are usually single parents, grandmothers or older siblings who are heading households. These items are sold to generate an income for the women and their families so that they can make a living.
Over three decades, SOS PE has transformed the lives of many vulnerable children in Port Elizabeth.
The SOS Children’s Village model provides a safe, protected and supportive upbringing for children. In the Village, children are provided with a mother, siblings, and a home within a safe community. This upbringing is life changing; they are exposed to opportunities and become contributing members of their communities because the cycle of separation and abandonment is broken.
“I’m very proud of our ladies who jumped in and started making masks and selling it to create an income for themselves and their families in such bad economic situation we are experiencing at the moment. They are making different designs and use different materials. All cotton masks are made in 3 layers, as required by the law, with elastic or cotton bands. They also use denim with cotton. They are selling from R20-R30, depending on the size of an order,” says Jackie Scheuble, the Programme Director.
Currently SOS PE provides a loving home to over 80 children in the family like setting within the village. It further supports approximately 360 children through the Family Strengthening Programme (FSP), which supports families in the community to help them build their resilience so that they can become self-reliant.
“Our aim is to ensure every child can grow in a secure and loving family. We have achieved this for thousands of children and young people over the years who have gone on to live successful lives, this is the difference that SOS Children’s Villages makes in this community,” concludes Jackie.
SOS Children’s Villages has been operating in South Africa for more than 35 years, with eight Villages and three Social Centres across the country.
This care cannot be provided without donations from generous individuals and companies. . For more information and to support SOS Children’s Villages, please go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/
About SOS Children’s Villages South Africa
SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africa’s most marginalised children. We offer loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Established in 1984, SOS has eight Children’s Villages and three Social Centres across eight provinces.
Each year our Alternative Care, Family Strengthening and Youth Employability programmes provide life-changing support to children and families across the country.
The Alternative Care model comprises of four principles that include a mother (each child has a caring parent), brothers and sisters (the family ties grow naturally), a house (a secure place to grow up in) and a village (the SOS family is part of the community).
Our Family Strengthening Programme aims to enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their families to grow within a safe family environment. We work in co-operation with local authorities and other service providers to empower families and communities to effectively protect and care for their children.
