About Us
History
Child Welfare SA White River is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) and affiliated to the Child Welfare South Africa national coordinating body which is the largest non-profit, non-governmental and volunteer driven organisation in the country providing child protection services.
Milestones in our recent history include:
1991 – The White River Child Welfare Society was formalised in 1991 to respond to the growing need for welfare services in the communities of White River, Sabie and Graskop. The society was affiliated with the National council for Child and Family welfare and specialised in serving families and children under the age of 18 years.
1995 – Overcoming financial difficulties, the society provides additional ground-breaking services to street children with the support of Moses Sihlangu health care centre in Kabokweni.
1997 – The National White Paper for Social Welfare is published and enhances our services through key principles such as democracy, partnership, ubuntu, equity, and inter-sectoral collaboration.
1998 –The society purchases its first vehicle in order to improve service delivery to our outlying areas of Sabie and Graskop.
1999 –Our services are extended to the Kabokweni and Game areas and we initiate a affiliation with Malelane Child Services. Our first community developer is employed and our services are expanded to include sewing, gardening and art projects at Numbi Gate, Jerusalem and Mganduzweni.
2002 – The society moves to new offices in William Lynne street and our first Lotto application is approved allowing us to improve our service delivery.
2004 – The South African National Council for Child and Family Welfare is re-branded and changes their name to Child Welfare South Africa. Subsequently the society is re-branded to Child Welfare SA White River.
2006 – A relationship is established with Peace Corps who place volunteers to provide administrative support and transference of skills to staff. The Asibavikele project is launched in Graskop and the team move into their first office in Glory Hill where they share the Dutch reformed church building.
2007 – The Isolobantwana project is launched in Sabie giving rise to the establishment of a Victim support centre where 24 hour counselling services are rendered to survivors of abuse.
2008 – The Sabie team move into their first offices in Sabie CBD.
2009 – The White River team move into a revamped office building courtesy of York Timbers, which now has a boardroom and offices for each of our social workers.
We are indebted to the following organisations, companies and individuals who support what we do:
- The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF)
- Department of Social Development
- Manna Church (White River)
- Anglican Church (White River)
- Lifeform Taxidermy (White River)
- Private and Organisational Donors
