Join the fight: Help Childline Western Cape raise R1.5 million at their urgent fundraising concert

Childline Western Cape (WC) will host an urgent fundraising concert in March as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, as the organisation aims to secure over R1.5 million needed to sustain its services to vulnerable children.

The event, titled Healing through the Arts: The Inaugural Concert, will take place at St George’s Cathedral in the Cape Town CBD and will feature performances by the Kyle Shepperd Trio and Benjamin Jephta presents Homecoming Revisited.

Mr Shepperd is an acclaimed pianist, while Mr Jephta is an award-winning composer known for his work in television and film.

Childline WC executive director Ricki Cooper said they function as a non-statutory organisation that plays a crucial role in supporting at-risk children across the province.

“We do not remove children from homes, but we work closely with statutory organisations to ensure families are connected to the appropriate services,” Cooper said.

With its main office in Wynberg and satellite offices in Parow and Mitchells Plain, Childline WC also provides support at courts in Wynberg, Atlantis, the City Bowl, Khayelitsha, and Paarl.

“In the province, there is a high rate of violence against children. We work from a trauma-informed perspective and focus strongly on prevention to stop abuse before it happens,” said Ms Cooper.

The organisation employs 36 staff members, including social workers, social auxiliary workers, lay counsellors, and support staff.

Its services include prevention and early intervention programmes, body safety workshops, therapy for survivors of sexual violence and abuse, bereavement counselling, and group support sessions.

Childline WC also operates the toll-free helpline 116, where trained counsellors provide psychosocial support and telephonic counselling to children and families in crisis.

Although the organisation receives funding from the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD), corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives and various trusts, Ms Cooper said financial pressures have intensified since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As a non-profit, fundraising is a full-time responsibility. Since the pandemic, many of our donors have not been able to support us at previous levels,” she said. She added, “If we do not reach our target by the end of March, we may have to scale down some of our services.”

Nicole Paulsen, the organisation’s helpline and therapeutic manager, and a long-serving staff member, described her work at Childline as deeply meaningful.

“I have a passion for working in child protection, and Childline has allowed me to be a vessel for healing in the lives of children and vulnerable families,” she said.

The concert will take place on Friday, March 6, at 7.30pm at St George’s Cathedral, 5 Wale Street. Tickets cost from R399 and are available through Webtickets.

Visit Childline WC to find out more.

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