Catherine impact through AFS-K has become hope and change in her community

Catherine Khumalo is a dedicated member of AFS-Khusela, committed to uplifting the children and families within her community. As a retired teacher, Catherine has always been passionate about education and has invested her time and energy into supporting the children in her community. Her involvement with AFS-K has not only allowed her to continue helping children and families but also to make significant, positive changes within the community. 

Background

“I’ve always loved teaching,” Catherine shares. “Pauline introduced me to AFS-K, knowing my love for children. As a retired teacher and currently running an after-school programme where I am assisting children with their homework, projects, and reading. “Many children in our community struggle with reading,” she notes. “I’ve seen how some of them turn to gangs and illegal activities because they lack guidance and constructive after-school activities.  

Becoming a member of AFS-K  

“Being part of AFS-K has made me more aware of the socio-economic issues within my community,” Catherine explains. “I’ve built relationships with local stakeholders to offer more comprehensive support to the children, especially those who are not attending school.” Through the AFS-K Lego training on developmental baselines using LEGO stimulation techniques. This will enable her to effectively assist children in the community with their cognitive and developmental growth, providing them with engaging activities that promote learning and development.  

The systematic challenges within the communities 

Catherine highlights the challenges posed by families dealing with serious drug abuse. “We often report these cases, but it’s difficult to solve the issues because of the involvement of high-profile individuals and a lack of support from the justice system,” she notes. “The police are often reluctant to assist, making it unsafe for us to operate in these areas.”  

Many families in our community struggle with unemployment and lack of resources,” Catherine observes. “Some children have disabilities, and their families don’t know how to support them until AFS-K steps in to connect them with special schools and physiotherapy. A significant issue Catherine faces with families is the lack of identification documents. “Many children and even parents don’t have IDs, which prevents them from accessing social grants and other support services,” she says. “This makes it hard for children to go to school and receive the help they need.” Other stakeholders such as SAPS, government officials and the statutory organisations are still holding back the system by not fully doing their part. Since the government holds and implements the laws, they should be complementing the efforts of AFS-K. However, the lack of support from them remains a significant challenge, hindering our progress in assisting families within the communities.”   

“We are working on many cases, and it is a constant challenge that we can’t help everyone. Unfortunately, due to limited resources, some cases are neglected, and the recent cuts in support for AFS-K have only added to these challenges. We’re now unable to assist every family in need, leaving a backlog of cases that still require attention. Our goal is to equip families with the tools they need to support themselves and take care of their children, but without adequate resources, reaching this goal becomes increasingly difficult at times, she added.  

The role of AFS-K and OCOF HHCSA intervention support 

Catherine recalls a case where a mother, who had passed away, left her daughter without South African citizenship. “The daughter now has four children, and we’ve been working tirelessly to get them birth certificates so they can access support grants, education, and healthcare,” she explains. “Drug abuse and teenage pregnancy are rampant in our community, and we’re striving to break that cycle by equipping families with the tools they need to improve their lives.” 

Another case involved a child with disabilities who was not attending school because the mother didn’t have the necessary documents. “We helped her obtain a birth certificate and ID for her child, and we’re in the process of enrolling the child in a special school and securing a disability grant,” Catherine shares. “The child is now receiving medical care and attending regular checkups, which is a big step forward.” 

Catherine also discusses the challenge of fathers refusing to support their children. “We’ve intervened in cases like this by arranging DNA testing and counseling through the Department of Social Development to mend broken families,” she says. 

How do you see your role evolving in the future with AFS-K? 

“I’m excited about the future of AFS-K,” Catherine says. “I want to see the work we do grow, with more AFS-K sites across South Africa, so we can continue preventing family separation and I am committed to helping as many families and communities as I can.”, she said. I believe that children should grow up in families, not institutions. I have witnessed horrible situations; institutions are not a kind environment for children.    

How can stakeholders support community members in addressing these issues?  

Collaboration with the Department of Social Development and other stakeholders is crucial,” Catherine emphasizes. “We need their support to educate and assist vulnerable children and families. My after-school programme is just one example of how we can make a difference, but we need more resources and backing from the government and other partners to truly make an impact. 

Catherine Khumalo is a true champion for her community. Despite not gaining much personally, she works tirelessly with dedication and passion. She has laid a strong foundation through AFS-K and has been able to touch many children and families’ lives. She continues to strive for a better life for the children through her efforts of preventing many family breakdowns and contributing to the ongoing strengthening of families within her community.