120 children and youth from the neighbouring township of Samora Machel and the illegal squatter camp directly adjacent to the farm, Siqalo are registered in our ASC Programme. They attend in groups of 80 daily. These children still have a home to go to (most live with their mothers, or if they are orphaned, with a family member, neighbour or alternative caregiver), but all grow up under extremely impoverished and socially difficult circumstances and have often been exposed to poverty, violent crime, or even abuse and rape. We not only offer them safety from the dangers of daily life in the townships, but also provide them with access to education, homework supervision, sports. We also offer workshops in art, music, dance and theatre. In addition the youth are offered workshops on topics such as HIV/Aids, sexuality, gender equality, cultural identity. We have a full-time Social Worker who offers group counselling as well as individual counselling to support our youth in processing their traumatic childhood experiences. She also guides families through the legal system should court interventions be necessary.

We rely on our wonderful German Volunteers who come to us for a year at a time, and they engage closely with our youth daily and support the ASC staff in all aspects of the programme. South African Interns also support our programmes and often Alumni come back to volunteer, based on the impact Vulamasango had on them as younger children.

In fact, our Social Worker is an Alumnus – and we are honoured to have her as a wonderful example of what is possible, despite circumstances.