About Us

Child Welfare SA: Kleinmond was founded in 1983 in response to the need for improved social care in Kleinmond. In that year thirteen minor children from Kleinmond appeared in court on criminal charges – a pro rata rate three times the average rate for the Cape Province.

A public meeting held in November 1982 and attended by over 100 people from all sections of the community resolved to form a Child Welfare Society and appointed a steering committee to take the matter further. The Society was formally launched in April 1983. We are extremely proud that our organisation is celebrating 40 years of services to the Hangklip/Kleinmond communities!                                                                                      

CWSA Kleinmond – a Non-Governmental Organisation – is the only welfare organisation in the Hangklip/Kleinmond area. The objectives of our organisation are to protect and promote the interest, well-being, safety and development of children within the family and community. We render pre-statutory and statutory services at preventative and rehabilitative levels to ensure the care and protection of children under the age of 18 years. Our services consist of case work (children and families at risk) and group work (support groups for foster parents).

Heideland Pre Primary is our oldest Early Childhood Development Centre and first opened their doors in 1982. This is a community school and this facility has 82 children enrolled and comprises of a staff principal, 5 ECD practitioners and a cook who are all permanently employed. This school has been steadfast through the years even when they were staring closure right in the face they kept going and the community has always been very supportive. They are financially supported by Department of Social Development and receive monthly subsidies for the day to day running of the school, we are also a school fees paying school and the school fees and fundraising events covers the rest of the shortfall that the subsidy does not cover. Heideland has not had the opportunity to build lasting relationships with donors and wish to explore this avenue.

Siyabulela Pre Primary opened it’s doors in January 2002 with only 30 children.  This year Siyabulela will be celebrating their 21^st year of existence and they continue to provide Early Childhood Development services in Proteadorp and the Overhills communities.  The facility is our biggest ECD Centre and has 148 children enrolled in the school.  The permanent staff consists of a principal, 6 ECD Practitioners, a Cleaner and a Cook and are assisted with 6 part-time Class Assistants. Siyabulela is self – sustainable and has many donors who have adopted the school fees of a child for a year, the centre is financially subsidised by Department of Social Development and Western Cape Education Department. This school has produced many learners of exceptional calibre and will continue to grow with the support of the communities in which renders services.

Bambanani Day Care is a baby creche and has 29 babies enrolled between the ages of 3 and 36 months.  Due to the norms and standards of the Department of Social Development the Child: ECD Practitioner ratio is much less than an Early Childhood Development centre that caters for 3- to 6-year-olds. The facility has 3 permanent ECD Practitioners and a part time cook.  The facility opened their doors in 2005 and renders a much-needed service to the community of Overhills in Kleinmond. Even though their challenges are constant the parents support the school faithfully by regularly paying their school fees, this school is much needed and supported by the community because this is where we offer a holistic service and therefore our community cannot be without the services of Bambanani.

Pikkewyntjies Pre Primary is our youngest Early Childhood Development Centre and opened its doors in 2007.  The facility is situated in Mooi Uitsig, Betty’s Bay and provides Early Childhood Development services to Mooi Uitsig in Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els.  The facility has 38 children enrolled and have a principal, 2 ECD practitioners, 1 Class Assistants and a Cleaner/Cook as permanent staff.  Due to the big area that the facility serves, it also has a bus service to transport the children to and from school. The main area of focus is the poor community of Mooi Uitsig in Bettys Bay, in this community the parents battle to pay their school fees due to lack of income, Department of Social Development, Western Cape Education Department and Friends of the Penguins Trust subsidizes the school. The staff with the help of parents raise funds to keep the doors open. Without this school the community would not be able to thrive as the children’s educational foundation for the mainstream school is established.

The Overstrand Child & Youth Care Centre is a Registered Residential Home that cares for 25 children (girls and boys) between the ages of 5 and 15 years. These vulnerable children have been through so much in their lives and the court had no choice but to place them in our care at the facility. At the facility our trained Professional Staff take care of these children as if they are their own, they care for their every need providing them with a homelike environment. The children at our care facility all work well with the social worker who helps them with behavioral and social problems due to the abuse and neglect they had to endure while in the care of their biological parents or families. Despite everything our children at the care facility are doing well in school, sport and are outstanding residents of the Hangklip / Kleinmond community. We are all so very proud of them as they never cease to amaze us and all we can say is there is never a dull moment.  

The after-school centre first opened its doors early March 2020, this was the vison of Simone Dimmerling. The after-school would be a place where the children could go to after the school day has finished.  The centre was identified by the community as there was a need for an after-school care centre for older children from Grade 5 onwards. It was found that there was a great number of children who did not have the means to attend a proper and affordable after school care facility, because many of the families had financial difficulties. Many of the parents are working while the children are left unsupervised at home. The after-school care aims to target these vulnerable unsupervised children by providing a safe place where they can do their homework, study and do other activities. The after-school care centre provides a nutritious meal to the children in the afternoon. The teachers and assistants play a major role in the lives of the children as they support and mentor the children as they promote good discipline and education support.