Drop-In Centre in Jamestown

The CFC Drop-In Center was opened in November 2008. Every day it offers an opportunity for up to 30 street children to escape their daily struggle for survival. The children receive proper healthy meals, medical attention, psychological counseling and are able to participate in various activities. Thus CFC can support these streetchildren in their current situation while developing a new perspective on life.

The CFC Drop-In Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 am until 4 pm. The street children are encouraged to arrive early, so they can take part in educational lessons as well as workshops and thus gaining from the offers the most. Upon arrival the children are entered into a registration book, then they wash their clothes, take a shower and receive a fresh outfit by CFC for that day. This is not only an external cleansing ritual, but also part of our hygiene education. After that the children attend classes, which incorporate Math as well as English.

They are also invited to attend workshops such as braiding baskets, designing jewelry, batik-, wood-, and other artworks plus drumming and dancing classes. Many of the children are very tired as they have been on-the-go since early in the morning, hustling for breakfast. Thus they often take advantage of the safe location to get some rest and sleep. Once a week we teach biblical stories and lecture about health issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, especially AIDS. In the meantime the children can watch a movie or play around. There is plenty of room for that on the large field behind the Drop-In Center. Also once a week a psychologist works with the children individually. She offers advice and support in tough situations and accompanies the children when returning to their families or to the CFC house in Hebron.

During their many “social investigations” social workers visit the children’s families, write reports about their backgrounds and investigate the reasons why the child became a street child. In addition they gather a recommendation whether the child ought to be invited into one of our living facilities or dormitories. Throughout several months the children are being observed, supported and taught and then evaluated according to an internal criteria list. Various forms of support are possible: assistance on the streets, invitation to live at our girls’ house or at our house in Hebron as well as direct assistance in our living facilities.