Three Pastors on the Challenges of a Refugee Children's Centre in Parow – Finances, a Dumping Site and Training

In this episode of Community Matters on Radio Cape Pulpit 729 AM, Jean Morris welcomes three pastors from the Balm of Gilead Centre in Parow: Pastor Winifred van Gamma (manager since 2014, holding a master's degree in practical theology from Stellenbosch University, with a heart for refugee and migrant children), Pastor Ruther Lochenberg (ordained in 2006, at the centre since 2017), and Pastor Daniel Angama (an educator trained in science education at the University of the Western Cape). The conversation follows a community outreach where the Radio Cape Pulpit team visited the centre and heard about its challenges. Pastor Winifred explains that the centre's number of children dropped from 40 to 17 after COVID-19, mainly due to financial pressure on parents who lost their jobs; many parents now send children to cheaper home-based carers instead. The centre is a non-profit organisation with very low fees (around R1,000–R1,200), but parents still plead for reductions, while the centre must still afford cleaning chemicals, stationery, and a token for the "aunties." Pastor Ruther notes that many families are refugees and migrants who move around frequently due to home status changes, and that single-parent problems and domestic trauma affect the children. Pastor Daniel adds that traumatised children sometimes show it through behaviour, and that the centre gives them one-on-one counselling and brings the gospel, with the Holy Spirit helping. A major problem is the dumping site right in front of the centre: after a building across the road was demolished, earth was thrown over the fence, and people began dumping rubbish there. It is unhygienic, smelly, and puts parents off. Pastor Winifred has approached the health officer three times, but nothing has been done. The pastors also mention the need for training for the "aunties" (caring for babies and toddlers, safety and health, first aid, fire drills) and for equipment such as toys, educational videos, and computers. Asked where to start, Pastor Ruther says training, Pastor Winifred says finances, and Pastor Daniel says equipment. Jean appeals to listeners, churches, and organisations to donate toys, chairs, food parcels, or any support, and to contact the pastors. She closes with Psalm 127:3: "Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward," reminding us that children are a sacred gift and not a burden. Her closing line: "Your story is not over until God says it is over."