orphaned and vulnerable
children's program (OVC)
Our OVC (orphaned and vulnerable children) program aims to help children trapped in dire socio-economic conditions. The program includes the Makokhanye pre-school, 5 afterschool centres and home visits conducted in rural areas in order to identify and assist children to obtain the necessary documentation to apply for social grants and to schools.
Makukhanye Pre-school
Makukhanye
Pre-school
25:40’s Makukhanye Preschool in Canzibe is an accredited early childhood development centre. The school offers classes for 3-4 year olds and has one grade R class. Our local staff are well-trained and organized, but more than that, they love the children and find joy and purpose in providing our students with a solid educational foundation, social skills, a love for learning, and helping them discover their identity in Christ.
Aftercare Centers
Our aftercare program offer orphans and vulnerable children a safe place to be after school, as well as one-on-one nurturing that they would otherwise not receive. 25:40 offers the children a healthy meal, help with homework and lifeskills, health monitoring and government services advocacy, all rooted in the Gospel. Currently we run five aftercare centres, serving more than 100 children every day.
Home Visits
Each year, the 25:40 staff visits hundreds of homes. We check up on the families of the students in our aftercare program and identify other orphans and vulnerable children.
We often come across families eligible for government services and grants, but who are not registered. We work with several government agencies to ensure these families obtain birth certificates and other identifying documents needed to receive these government services.
During our home visits, we sometimes find families in desperate need of food or clothing, and offer emergency parcels in those circumstances.
If appropriate and welcome, 25:40 staff members also share the Gospel with those who do not know Jesus and pray with them. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is at the heart of our work.