Kgomotso Children Centre
The Kgomotso Children Centre started informally as a project in 2007. At the age of 17 Kgomotso Nyalungo sought of making a difference in her community in which she was one of many children who spent their days on the streets. Most of these children learned how to drink, smoke, steal, take drugs, use vulgar and insulting language, and young girls were getting pregnant as they did not have enough resources to continue schooling.
Kgomotso decided to use skills that she learned at school to create a community centre where children could spend their time doing something more meaningful than being on streets. At that time Kgomotso did not have a space or friends that could help her to fulfill her vision, even her own parents were living in a small shack with a small yard that could not accommodate Kgomotso's project. Nevertheless, Kgomotso decided to start a dance club, poem and drama sessions under a tree.
In 2011, Kgomotso decided to discuss her vision with Vestine Ntakirutimana, Agnes Mzima, and Marc Lorenz who decided to join her and work with her. The project was registered as a non-profit organization in July 2011 and they purchased a small stand with a house in September 2011.
In 2012, KCC started an exchange programme with Don Bosco Club Köln in Cologne, Germany. The project is designed to open new possibilities to children of both youth centres. In the years following the German friends became one very important partner to journey and support KCC.
In 2013 KCC welcomed its first international volunteer. Furthermore, the house was extended with the help of students from the University of Pretoria and many other helping hands. We now have two rooms for children to learn and play, a kitchen, a store room and a toilet. Just one year later, in 2014, a bathroom and second toilet as well as another room for children was finalized.
2016 and 2017 brought a lot of changes to the structure. A shelter was built and the front yard and backyard was paved with bricks. Both construction measures contributed very much to the improvement of the centre. Now, children can learn and practice without being exposed to the sun or rain. Moreover, eating and playing on a dirty and dusty ground is only a bittersweet memory. A new kitchen meets the required standards where two cooking ladies prepare food for more than 200 kids.
Right now the project enjoys great popularity. There are more than 300 children and adolescents registered at KCC. More than 200 of them visit the centre regularly after school. The number is steadily increasing. The different programmes that are offered aim at providing the children and adolescents with food and a wide range of leisure and educational activities.
>> Jesus said to his disciples: "Let the children come to me for the kingdom of God is theirs." So, Jesus war referring to us the word that we must treat our children with tender loving kindness and we must usher them before the great Kings and Queens of this world. Children are a blessing to us and they are so important before God - not punching bags of any man or woman. Children are so special at KCC! <<
