Caring, Affirming, and Training for Change
CATCH Projects
CATCH was founded in 2002 and is registered as a Non-Profit Organisation with the Department of Social Development as well as a Non-Profit Company Section 21 incorporated. CATCH works from a 3.8 hectare property donated by Mercedes Benz of South Africa in 2003. CATCH has a staff complement of 22 members, the majority of whom live in the community we serve
CATCH works in the Informal Settlement of Mzamomhle where over 40 000 people are challenged by poverty, violence and AIDS.
Mzamomhle is located in the peri-urban area of East London in the Eastern Cape Province, the birthplace of the heroes of the struggle against Apartheid.
The Eastern Cape has the highest rate of unemployment in South Africa and is therefore the poorest province in our country.
Our Mission
CATCH champions change by building partnerships for health, education and self-sustainability for vulnerable women and children challenge by poverty, violence and AIDS in Mzamomhle.
BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE THROUGH 4 PROJECTS
Project 1:
Food Security
The aim is to alleviate the distress of children in the poorest families as well as move the families towards health and self-sustainability
CATCH has allocated plots of land to 162 women to mitigate hunger in the 850 family members they represent. The women are provided with equipment, seeds, seedlings and training to produce a good harvest
CATCH personally advocates for life documents for family members to enhance food security
CATCH provides a monthly training to the gardeners to encourage diet diversity and organic methods of growing food.
CATCH strengthens families with training parental skills, family conferences and counselling
CATCH provides work readiness training for youth and adults and searches for job opportunities for family members
CATCH provides space on its property for all families to grow and harvest vegetables
CATCH sponsors suitable candidates for work readiness training with NPO “Work4aLiving” which increases opportunities to earn a decent living wage.
Project 2:
Children & YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT
All the projects at CATCH are designed to improve the lives of the children.
1 in 3 of our child beneficiaries are malnourished, 1 in 3 have been sexually violated and a further 1 in 3 are maternally orphaned or have a disappeared father.
Our CATCH slogan is:
“STAY WITH THE CHILD, GROW WITH THE CHILD”
The Project aims to empower 1000 young people to be able to make positive life choices which build safety, health and self-sustainability.
Aims:
To divert children away from destructive behaviours
Train self-protection from abuse, trafficking & AIDS
Promote physical and emotional resilience
Spot and investigate children in crisis and provide help
Provide sport & recreation
CATCH offers the following at after -school programs:
Sport – Soccer & Netball training for Leagues
Life skills training
Hot protein-rich meals
Counselling for children in crisis
Free Play which our team believes helps heal life traumas
Project 3:
PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT
1 in 5 women in the Eastern Cape suffer from partner violence or men known to them.
CATCH social workers annually support and counsel over 200 women and children survivors of gender-based violence (GBV)
Apart from cases of GBV, women, children and families are in crisis. Inequality, lack of access to human rights as well as addictions to substances causes conflict in families.
The Aim
The CATCH team’s work outcome is to counsel and support clients for lessened anxiety, hopelessness and marginalisation and an improved sense of control and hope.
Project 4:
Community
Development
The school in Mzamomhle which our beneficiary children and youth attend is under strain. Overcrowded classrooms, stressed teachers, poor infrastructure means that 80% of children entering Grade 4 are not able to read for meaning. According to Stats SA only 57% of children in South Africa do not matriculate. Unemployment, poverty and inequality are the negative challenges families face which impact the schooling of children. To address these inequalities, CATCH has set up a STUDENT SUPPORT AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT HUB on our site. The HUB is open to all children and youth needing support.
Aims:
Reading Club to help primary school children to read for meaning
Subject choice help for students with career in view
Work Readiness Training to bridge gap between school leaving and tertiary education
Placement of students into tertiary education – either universities or TVETs or Training Centres for practical skills