Foster Care Project - Thamsanqa Homes

Thamsanqa Homes: A project of Family Restoration Services where broken, neglected, abused and orphaned children are being loved, cared for, nurtured and protected. A place where children can love, play and have fun.

Present circumstances

Negotiations took place with the Departments of Housing and Social Development concerning grants for special needs housing. After much perseverance and lots 3 houses have been purchased and registered into the name of Family Restoration Services. .Two of the houses are presently occupied while the third house is being renovated. The 4th house is in the process of being purchased.

History

When Family Restoration Services became involved in the project, the project functioned in a small 2 bed-roomed house, measuring 40 square meters, situated in New Brighton (Port Elizabeth) and was home to 12 children, ranging from ages 3-15 years. One Saturday afternoon during June 2006, the landlord decided that he was not in a position to accommodate the project any longer and the children were put on the street.

In desperation a house belonging to the Salvation Army was made available on a temporary basis to the children and two volunteers who cared for the children. The house was small and dilapidated but it provided a shelter to the children. Family Restoration Services immediately started to investigate different means to care for these children. The best option seems to be a foster-care project. During June 2006, one of the boys, Cheeza Thamsanqa, who was on anti-retroviral treatment died and it was unanimously decided to name the project after him. His brother, suffering from TB and who is HIV-positive, is currently living in the Thamsanqa Homes.

Houses

House #1
This house is situated in NU 1 Motherwell. At the moment two foster mothers and 17 children are living there. 13 children are part of the project and four children belong to the two foster mothers. As soon as House no. 3 has been renovated six foster children, one foster mother and her child will move out of house no 1 and in to house no.3.

House #2
Situated in NU9. We are all much exited about this house. The house has been purchased, renovated and extended. The house consists of four bedrooms, a lounge, study room, bathroom and kitchen. A prospective foster mother and seven children moved into this house last Thursday. They lived in a shack area in the White Location, New Brighton. Their house was very dilapidated and poorly furnished. There are six new beds in the house, donated by Round Table No. 8 but much more furniture is needed. The house is already registered in the name of Family Restoration Services. These children have been waiting for a year to be included in the project. They had very little to live from.

House #3
The house is situated in NU 2, Motherwell. The renovations and extensions to this house will be completed by the beginning of December 2007. Children and a mother, presently living in house no 1 will be moving into this house.

House #4
Finances for the purchasing of the 4th house have been approved but the purchase process has not been completed. We plan to place children from Motherwell in this house. The house is already registered in the name of Family Restoration Services.

Family Restoration Services are at present caring for 23 children in two houses and some of these children will be moved to houses three and four once these are available and in a liveable state.

Please take a look at the Foster Care Services provided to these children under our care.