Human Rights Office, Projects and Progress

Siyakhathala

Siyakhathala was founded in October 2008 and registered as a non-profit organisation in May 2009. They are based in the township of Khayelitsha and work with at risk children including both child-headed households and also children that are suspected of being abused and neglected within Khayelitsha.

Khayelitsha sees many cases of orphans that have lost their parents through HIV and Aids. These children now live in child-headed families. There are also a great number of children who get pregnant very early and have to leave school because they have to raise their children. They are then at risk of entering a life of crime in order to take care of their siblings and own children. Also there are many cases of abused and neglected children in families who are in desperate need of support.

The vision of Siyakhathala is, that all vulnerable children, who live in child-headed families or who are abused and neglected get as much support, as they need to grow up properly and have the opportunity to develop their skills in order to cater for their own life and their own families in the future.

In order to reach this vision, their mission is, to support the child-headed families along with both parents and teachers, as well as educate them in matters which are relevant to their lives.

PAHRO work in partnership with Siyakhathala taking part in weekly home visits with the volunteers from their own organisation to check up on the children who have been noted as ‘at risk’ and so thought to be vulnerable. Our volunteers also assist with developing different strategies to empower the kids, for example training them in conflict resolution, HIV awareness and how to be responsible young adults. This work takes place in five areas and eight different primary schools within Khayelitsha.