Over the past quarter, Starfish has continued to deliver essential healthcare, and empower people to provide professional and sustainable services to orphaned and vulnerable children. Our centres work with local community partners, identifying need, and providing education, nutrition, and healthcare programmes to thousands of vulnerable people across seven provinces. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous contribution and are delighted to share with you the life-changing work your support has made possible.
Thanks to your help, our Static clinic has made a huge difference in the last quarter! In the last quarter, our clinic has provided:
We recently hosted a special day that brought children and their caregivers together in a meaningful way as part of strengthening our disability interventions. On this day the disabled children enjoyed art therapy sessions, where they could express themselves in a fun and creative space. At the same time our occupational therapist launched a new support group for caregivers raising children with disabilities. The day gave children a chance to feel free and supported, while caregivers found comfort in sharing their experiences and encouraging one another. This is an important step forward in building stronger support networks for families living with disability in the Ufafa Valley. It also shows how much more we can achieve with sustainable disability programmes which are aimed at helping children grow and families feel less alone in their journey.
The Wellness Wagon nurse recently conducted a home visit to provide follow-up support and care to one of the families in need. Through these visits, the nurse ensures that families receive essential health guidance, medical checks, and encouragement to maintain their well-being. These personal visits strengthen the connection between the community and our healthcare services, bringing care and compassion directly to their doorstep.
Thanks to your help, the wellness wagons have made a huge difference! In the last quarter, the wellness wagons have provided:
Our maternal health programme provides support, resources, and group sessions to families. In response to the HIV crisis, which poses significant risks during pregnancy, we work alongside local clinics and have implemented the First 1,000 days programme, taking care of both mother and child in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
Molotshwa's journey has been incredibly difficult. She lost both of her parents at a young age, and from that moment, her life became unstable. She moved from one relative to another, often facing abuse and neglect along the way. Eventually, Molotshwa became pregnant while living with her uncle. Neither of them had employment, but her uncle received a small grant which he used to provide food for the household. When her uncle sadly passed away, her situation became even more desperate-she was left with no income and no support system. It was during this challenging time that we met her. Since then, we have walked this journey with her, offering counselling, emotional support, and providing food parcels. She has joined our support group and, slowly, we've seen a change in her. Today, Molotshwa smiles more. She knows she is no longer alone. She has a safe space where she can speak openly and be heard. She has met other mothers who have faced similar struggles, and in their stories, she has found comfort, strength, and hope.
Through our maternal care programme, we met Nonhlanhla when she was in Grade 12, feeling stressed and struggling to accept her pregnancy. We invited her to join our Antenatal Class for teenage girls, held on Wednesday afternoons.
Through counselling and ongoing support, we introduced her to the Ibhayi Lengane programme and arranged home visits on Saturdays, as she was still attending school during the week. Nonhlanhla was living with her aunt, since her mother had passed away and her father was not present. We supported her throughout her pregnancy by providing food parcels, baby clothes, and essential guidance on motherhood.
Today, Nonhlanhla is happy with her baby and growing in confidence as a young mother. She also attends our Playmat programme, learning the importance of teaching and playing with her child at home—laying a strong foundation for her child’s education
During a routine home visit, our nurse met 10-year-old Thato, a bright young boy who had never received a social grant and did not yet have a birth certificate. Recognising his needs, the nurse referred him to a social worker for support and intervention.
Thanks to this timely referral, Thato is now on a path to receive the assistance he needs, ensuring his rights are protected and his future is brighter.
This story highlights how our social services pillar actively identifies at-risk children and creates real, positive change in their lives.
Starfish works to foster quality early childhood education and development. The importance of high-quality early childhood development education cannot be understated. Studies have shown that the early years of a child’s life are imperative to their development and ability to succeed in adulthood, which is why our centres work to give children the best start in life so that they can thrive when they leave our care. Our early childhood development centres and community partners are able to work with our social welfare team. This means they can help if a child lacks official documents needed to access education, or step in if there are more serious welfare concerns.
We are extremely thankful to our partners Book Dash Books and Biblionef for their support in the donation of storybooks for the children in our centres. This donation have provided children with new and exciting books to read and learn from, improving their literacy and language development, and creating mini libraries in their homes!
Your generosity has helped provide healthy daily meals in our ECD centres, ensuring that no child goes hungry while they learn and play.
Cellina is a shy bright eyed 4-year-old. In the past 8 months Cellina has been thriving in the classroom. She has grown from shy and hesitant to a confident, curious learner. Cellina can now count up to 20, recognise shapes and identify colours. She is showing off her newfound skills. She has made many friends, learned to share, take turns and cooperate with others. She is kind and helpful to others. Cellina shows a love for art class, where she uses bright colours and lets her imagination run wild. She is always excited to share her masterpieces with the class.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable support, and hope you can see the significant impact your collective donations have had on vulnerable communities in South Africa.
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