At eight years old, Sipho was often left alone for days, missing meals and school. A routine visit from a community-based care worker revealed how urgently he needed help. That visit became the first step towards regular meals, a safe place after school, and support for his family.
What does a care worker notice when they step inside a home? Sipho’s story shows how listening, asking questions, and coming back can help a child who might otherwise be overlooked.
A child’s empty seat at school can tell you something is wrong. A home visit can help explain why.
A caregiver may be struggling to put food on the table. A grandmother may need help applying for a grant. A child may have been unwell for weeks without receiving medical care.
Through Starfish’s community-based partners, care workers help families identify these difficulties and take the next step towards support.
A home visit begins with listening. How are the children doing? Are they attending school? Is there enough food? Does their caregiver have someone to turn to when things become difficult?
Care workers look at the circumstances affecting a child’s daily life, including their wellbeing, home environment and family support. They can help identify concerns, connect families with appropriate services and follow up on what happens next.
On one visit, the team met a grandmother raising seven orphaned children. The visit gave her space to talk about the family’s needs and helped the team understand where additional support was needed.
Health workers can also identify concerns that might otherwise go untreated. For example, during a routine home visit, they met Thabo, a nine-year-old with a prolonged cough and weight loss. He was screened through a mobile TB drive, began treatment promptly, and made a full recovery.
For Sipho, support included a safe place to go after school.
With Starfish’s support, he joined an after-school program where he received daily meals, clean clothes, and emotional support. A local social worker provided counseling and worked with his family towards a more stable living arrangement.
Today, Sipho is back in school and playing sports. He recently said he dreams of becoming a teacher so he can “help children who are quiet like I was.”
His story shows how practical help and consistent care can work together: a meal, a trusted adult, and support for the family around him.
Your gift can help sustain the community-based support that connects children and caregivers with meals, services, and someone who keeps checking in.
If you are concerned that a child is being neglected or abused, contact the appropriate child protection service in your area.
*Thabo and Sipho's names have been changed to protect their privacy.