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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
THE Department of Social Welfare has called on guardians to foster children that are being housed in children’s homes in order to afford them a chance to grow up in a proper home environment.
Speaking recently during a Matabeleland South provincial child protection committee quarterly meeting, Matabeleland South social development officer, Ms Tendai Mangwiro said the department wants to divert towards fostering children instead of institutionalising them as part of enhanced child protection.
She said calls have been made for communities to register as foster parents but the response was poor. Ms Mangwiro said the home environment can help children to develop better.
“We are trying to register foster parents because we are trying to encourage fostering of children as compared to putting them in institutions as we want to cultivate an atmosphere where they grow up in a family set up. We encourage fostering within our districts however communities lack motivation and some are reluctant to register as foster parents,” she said.
“We have always leaned towards institutionalising children but as a way of enhancing social and child protection we want these children to join proper home environments. Instead of committing all children we want to follow the route of fostering. These children also deserve to have the experience of growing in a home environment with a mother and siblings which they can’t experience in an institution.”
Ms Mangwiro said social and child protection requires input from all stakeholders and most important of all community members.
She said the province has two homes which are operational namely, Kip Keino in Gwanda and White Water Side Children’s Home in Matobo. She said the institutions have a combined 68 children. 62 of these have birth certificates. 55 of the 68 children are housed at Kip Keino.
Ms Mangwiro said the institutions have been of great help to children in need of social protection.
Kip Keino member of board of trustees, Mr Zibusiso Nyoni said some of the children they have at the home were either removed from the streets, neglected or abandoned. He said learners were attending school at Makwe primary, Makwe Secondary and Collen Bawn High School. Mr Nyoni said the home services the entire province. He said it was playing a huge role in creating a future for children that had lost hope.
“We have children who came from the home that have graduated outside the country after getting scholarships. Others are working local, running their businesses and others have started their own families. Some had lost hope and they were feeling dejected but the home has given them another chance in life,” he said.
Mr Nyoni said there is a need for livelihood projects to be established which the youngsters could embark on. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter