ACVV Khayalethu Child and Youth Care Centre and Oliver House

In a city facing acute child welfare challenges — Nelson Mandela Bay carries significant rates of gang involvement, domestic violence, child abuse, and youth homelessness — a facility that takes boys from danger and gives them not just safety but genuine development is irreplaceable. ACVV Khayalethu has been that facility in Gqeberha for many decades, operating from a large property on Kragga Kamma Road in the leafy Theescombe suburb of the city.

"Khayalethu" — meaning "our home" in isiXhosa — is exactly what it is for the boys who live there.

Who Khayalethu Serves

Khayalethu provides intervention programmes and alternative care for boys aged 8 to 18 who are at risk. The mission is explicitly developmental — not merely custodial: to meet children's basic needs through a holistic approach aimed at re-socialisation and, wherever possible, family reunification. Up to 35 boys live on-site at any given time.

The boys arrive from situations characterised by crime, abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), neglect, and poverty. Many have been removed from highly traumatic home environments. Khayalethu's approach recognises that children who have been exposed to violence and dysfunction need more than accommodation — they need consistent relationships, structured routines, educational continuity, therapeutic support, and practical skills development.

Education: Schools Programme and Strong Foundations

Every boy enrolled at Khayalethu is placed in a local school on admission — educational continuity is an explicit priority. An after-school homework programme provides teacher-assisted support and, where possible, extra lessons to help boys catch up. A Learning Centre offers foundational language, numeracy, and life skills for older boys who need functional literacy rather than a formal school track.

For boys who cannot access the mainstream school system — whether due to significant educational delay, learning differences, or trauma impacts — Khayalethu runs its own school, Strong Foundations, on the property. This removes one of the most common barriers to effective residential care: the impossible expectation that a highly traumatised child can simply walk into a mainstream classroom and function.

Development Programmes

Beyond education, Khayalethu offers a rich range of development programmes:

Community Service — Boys are involved in voluntary community service at clinics, old age homes, and animal welfare organisations, learning civic responsibility and the importance of giving back.

Sports Programme — Sport is a serious and celebrated part of Khayalethu's culture. All boys participate in sport at both school and the Centre; the karate programme has produced boys who have competed in the annual SA JKA Karate Championships and represented South Africa at WJKA World Championships. Soccer and other sports are also part of the programme.

Adventure-Based Education — Outdoor activities, hiking, and nature-based challenges teach boys perseverance, teamwork, and resilience — and often surface hidden talents.

Oliver House: The Transition Programme

On completing their schooling, young men (ages 18–21) move from the main centre to Oliver House — an on-site semi-independent living facility that bridges the gap between residential care and independent life. The Oliver House programme focuses on: finding holiday and weekend employment; enrolling young men in skills courses or apprenticeships; assistance with driver's licence applications and study; and support in applying for further education. It is a preparation phase that Khayalethu takes seriously, recognising that a young man who has grown up in residential care faces real challenges in navigating the world independently — and that that transition deserves sustained support, not an abrupt exit at 18.

Khayalethu INTERNational

Khayalethu runs a structured international volunteer programme, welcoming volunteers from other countries to participate in the life of the centre — bringing diverse influences and perspectives into the boys' experience while supporting the organisation's operational capacity.

Relevance for GBV Survivors

Khayalethu serves boys — and is therefore relevant to GBV survivors in the Gqeberha area specifically when there are male children in the family who need residential care. When a woman fleeing a domestic violence situation has sons aged 8 and above who cannot be accommodated with her in a women's shelter (many shelters have age restrictions for male children), Khayalethu provides a safe, established, and well-run residential alternative. Referrals are made through the Department of Social Development and through the Court system.

ACVV Khayalethu CYCC and Oliver House: 160 Kragga Kamma Road, Theescombe, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Tel: +27 41 484 5667. Mobile: +27 72 278 8787. Email: khaya@khayalethu.org.za. Website: khayalethu.org.za. NPO 199-436. Facebook & Instagram: @KhayalethuYouthCentre.