Who We Are
At Ethelbert Child & Youth Care Centre, we believe in the quiet power of love, safety, and second chances. Tucked into the vibrant heart of KwaZulu-Natal, our Centre is more than a building — it’s a home where children rediscover their worth and begin to heal, one day at a time.
As a registered non-profit and public benefit organisation (NPO & PBO), our mission is rooted in service, not in profit. We provide full-time care, rehabilitation, and support to 65 incredible children, ranging in age from 18 months to 18 years. Each of them has been placed with us through a thorough and compassionate process, overseen by the Department of Social Development, the Department of Justice, and other dedicated child welfare agencies.
Our story began in 1907, born from a family’s heartbreak and an unwavering desire to help others. After the tragic drowning of their son, the Corbishley family, together with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, built this Centre as a memorial — a place where loss was transformed into love. For over a century, we’ve continued that legacy.
Every child who comes through our gates is met with kindness, care, and the promise of a brighter future. We’re proud to be part of their journey — offering not just a place of safety, but a place to belong.
Behind every smile is a story, and behind every story is a community committed to care, dignity, and opportunity.
This video offers a glimpse into who we are, what we do, and the heart that drives our work each day at Ethelbert Child and Youth Care Centre.
A sincere thank you to Styles Mbatha for his stellar narration, and to Paper Plane Creative for capturing our story so beautifully through their videography.
What We Do
The integral and most valuable objective of our work is to reunite beneficiaries with their rehabilitated parents or families. However, not all beneficiaries are able to return to their families and therefore remain in our care. It is at this juncture that our foster programme is critical in affording our children the familial experiences that they long for. Until reunification takes place, Ethelbert CYCC’s aim is ensuring all of our beneficiaries’ fundamental needs and rights are met.
These include:
- A safe environment free of prejudice;
- A balanced and nutritious diet;
- Education through affiliation with local primary; secondary and tertiary learning institutions incl. after school programming;
- Freedom of speech where each beneficiary is provided with a forum to express themselves without judgement;
- Psychosocial support through individual and group sessions with a Centre-based Social Worker;
- Familial love and structure through qualified Child Care Workers who serve as custodians for beneficiaries, providing day to day care and emotional support;
- Spiritual guidance and upliftment.
A Holistic Approach to Child Care
“A child typically finds themself simultaneously enmeshed in different ecosystems, from the most intimate home ecological system moving outward to the larger school system and the most expansive system which is society and culture. Each of these systems inevitably interacts with and influence each other in every aspect of the child’s life.”
– BRONFENBRENNER ECOLOGICAL THEORY
A Holistic Approach to Child Care
“A child typically finds themself simultaneously enmeshed in different ecosystems, from the most intimate home ecological system moving outward to the larger school system and the most expansive system which is society and culture. Each of these systems inevitably interacts with and influence each other in every aspect of the child’s life.”
– BRONFENBRENNER ECOLOGICAL THEORY
our main goals
To render a high-quality comprehensive package of residential Child Care services that promote optimal rehabilitative and growth outcomes.
These include:
- Creating a safe and therapeutic familial environment;
- Ensuring educational needs of children are met through admission into mainstream schools, remedial or specialized teaching for children with learning disabilities;
- Early Childhood Development programming for children aged 2-5 years.
- Recreational, life-skills and extra-curricular programming.
- Spiritual Development of children
- Collaborative efforts with placement agencies for reunification of families including Department of Social Development;
- Host- and foster-parent recruitment, training and support;
- Making optimal use of qualified personnel and dedicated volunteers;
- Establishing partnerships with the corporate sector, like-minded organisations and government departments;
- Implementing healthy business principles to ensure quality service.