Matt's Foundation Children’s Needs

“It is a well established fact that conditions associated with poverty have the most powerful and pervasive impact on the broadest range of negative child outcomes. Other influences aside, as poverty conditions increase, the risks to prenatal development, neo-natal and child health, child care, exposure to accidents and violence, poor educational preparation and attainment, all increase” according to the study done by the Human Science Research Council in 2003.

They continue to emphasize how poverty during a child’s early years may be more damaging than when it occurs later in the child’s life, particularly where health and educational outcomes are concerned. Many of the specific health, rehabilitation and development needs of disabled children are not likely to be met when in conditions of enduring poverty. In addition, the problems of emotionally vulnerable children are likely to be compounded.

According to the Sedibeng Government Analysis 2010/2011, the unemployment rate for the Vaal Triangle is (42.1%) and higher than the national average of (27.8%). The number of households that are living in poverty is as high as 36.8%.

The grant received from the government for a foster home is about R680 per child, per month and as little as R250 per child, per month for trauma centres and safe houses.

On average, a child between the age of *6 to 18 costs the foster parents *+ R1,333.60 per month. This total amount includes food, basic clothing, transport to and from school, participation in extra-mural activities, school needs and medicine.

Even with the *R680 or R250 grant the foster parents receive from the government, they still need an additional *R653.60 per month in order to provide the basic necessities for these children.

This clearly indicates how important donations of any kind are to foster homes, safe houses and charities in general.

*Figures are based on a case study done with Kosmos Foster Home (August 2010)

Author: MV Communications