The Coalition of Anglican Children’s Homes comprises an amalgamation of two children’s homes: namely St George’s and St Nicolas Home. The Children’s Homes have over 100 years of experience in providing residential and therapeutic care and support to children who have been placed in our care by the Children’s Court.
Vision
Helping Children take the next step.
Mission
To make a positive difference in the lives of children that we render services to, in our residential and community programmes.
History of the Homes
St George’s Home: The Anglican Church established St George’s Home in 1915 to care for destitute boys in Johannesburg. In 1985, it was decided to move away from institutionalised care for boys and houses were bought in the community. Girls were admitted into the programme and a more normal lifestyle was provided for these children who had been referred by the children’s courts. The houses were used for youth over the age of 16 and the programme was called Life Campus. Many of the youth were from street shelters and had little or no formal education.
An accredited Adult Basic Education Training (ABET) system was introduced and some of the youth were able to pass matric. Before leaving Life Campus, the youth that were over the age of 18 (and therefore not in the Social Welfare System as stipulated by the Act) are put into a six-month Exit Programme to teach them life skills in order for them to gain employment.
The St Nicolas Home for Children: St Nicolas Home was established by Brian Gannon in 1965 in response to children and families who were in need of care in Westbury and surrounding ‘coloured’ areas. The very socio-economic conditions in the community often resulted in young people being neglected and very often abused. In addition, alcoholism, abuse and gangsterism characterised the area.
Our Programmes:
St George’s Home youth life skills programme caters for Youth between the ages of 14 and 21.
The aim of this programme is to ensure that young people are not isolated and participate socially and economically as citizens.
The beneficiaries of the programme are young people who have been abused and neglected as well as youth who have previously lived on the streets.
At St George’s Home, we help stabilize young people’s lives by providing them with a home and ongoing support. During this time, they develop a range of skills with a particular emphasis on literacy.
Once they have completed the programme, COACH assists them by giving them the opportunity to go to a Vocational Training College.
This allows them to obtain a skill and qualification so that they are able to work and support themselves.
The St Nicolas Home for Children located in Sophiatown caters for children between the ages of 4 and 18 who have been removed from the care of their families due to abuse and neglect.
The home provides a safe family environment for the children in care. Children are provided with life skills training, extra-curricular activities, and homework guidance. Care is provided by well-trained child and youth care workers who assist the children to develop and heal in their everyday lives.
The centre is not a traditional orphanage. Intensive assistance is also provided to family members to help heal broken relationships and improve parenting and child protection skills.
The goal is to reunite children with their families. However, if a child’s well- being is not guaranteed in the care of their biological families, foster care parents are recruited, trained, and supported to ensure that the child has the opportunity to mature in a family home and not institutional care.
