SECOND INTAKE: JAN 2025

Ten people (10) were admitted at Ithemba Centre during Jan 2025. Four (4) women and -six (6) men were admitted in Jan 2025.

These candidates were all people living on the streets for more than 3 years. We assisted them to decrease/stop using drugs and all of them tested clean after our first month of our program. The first 30 days of their stay was on a voluntary “lock down” in which they really adapted well from street life.

Social skills, spiritual development, life skills , social developments groupwork and drug use reduction programs were effective in most cases.

The first mixed group of male and female brought unique challenges. Women and men took different ways of adapting and we found woman need more room space. Their sleeping unit cannot be too crowded.

We are currently working hard to find a way away from street life for each participant. These diversion challenges include finding rentable rooms, construction of temporary housing on shared land and re-unification with family.

Up till today 5 candidates of this intake are progressing well in the program towards exiting and seeking diversion away from street life.

2 participants have been re-integrated with family already.

3 participants of this intake exited the program on a voluntary basis

4 other candidates have progressed gradually, but were not able to re-integrate in the  community. Some chose to go back to the street.

Second  intake success rate: Potential re-integration – 70%

(30 April 2025) – Social rehabilitation and personal progress: 5 %

Participants are working in afternoons in skills learning activities: building panels for housing units, doing courses, maintaining the vegetable garden, car wash and building maintenance.

FIRST INTAKE: MAY 2024

Eight (8) men were admitted at Ithemba Centre during May/June 2024.

These candidates were all people living on the streets for more than 10 years. We assisted them to decrease/stop using drugs and some of them tested clean after our first month of our program. The first 30 days of their stay were on a voluntary “lock down” in which they really adapted well from street life.

Social skills, spiritual development, life skills and drug use reduction programs were effective in most cases.

We had very talented people in our first intake who really developed their skills  positively. We developed contact with the families of most participants. 1 person has made contact with his father after more than 10 years of  no-contact.

Up till today 4 of our first intake participants are with their families or privately accommodated away from street life:

BW – has been re-united with his grandmother in Cape Town

SW – has been established in his private rented room in Thembalethu.

SR – Has reconnected with his family in Cape Town. He also found permanent employment in George.

BH – After health setback has re-united with family and is now living away from the street.

4 other candidates have progressed gradually, but were not able to re-integrate in the   community. Some chose to go back to the street.

First intake success rate:     Re-integration 50%

Social rehabilitation and personal progress: 25%