Durban Children's Society

Durban Children's Society is a child-welfare organization committed to protect the rights and enhance and promote the quality of life of children, families and communities in Durban and to work in the cause of social justice.

Our core concerns are neglected and abused children; HIV/AIDS infected and affected children; providing homes and family care options for vulnerable children; and empowering marginalized and deprived communities.

The Society offers a wide range of services to abused, abandoned and orphaned children and children who are willfully neglected. Services are aimed at improving the lives of children in need, namely:

• Protection of children at risk
• Educare
• Children's Homes
• Homes for Street Children

The Society's services are targeted at children living in dangerous and difficult circumstances due to:

• Physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect
• Abandonment
• Effects of HIV/AIDS

The core function of the Society is child protection, operating primarily in the poor and previously disadvantaged communities, including informal settlements within Durban.

The Society does not remove any child unless it is absolutely necessary. Attention is given in the first instance to stabilizing the family through intensive structured assistance.

While the aim of the Society is to preserve the family unit, there are times when it is necessary to place children in alternate care; either with another family or within a children's home.

Much of the Societies efforts are now geared toward the care of AIDS orphans.