About Us

In 1996 Founder member, Sue Davies, came into contact with children living in Mzamomhle when two children visited Highway Community Church. A club was started in the church hall and was attended by 30-40 children every Saturday. The club was mainly a gospel club with some recreational and craft activities. The club operated at the church hall for 4 years when it was moved on to the school premises in Mzamomhle when attendance numbers escalated to approximately 100 children aged 6-14 years.

In 2001 sewing training for the children had been provided in the school by a group of volunteers. This project called DORCAS, came under the direction of CATCH and premises were secured in a nearby warehouse to alleviate the difficult logistics of transporting many machines each week to the school. The project extended to providing sewing training for young unemployed people three mornings per week. Approximately 16 trainees (6 children and 10 young adults) were skilled.

In September 2002 at these same premises, the founder member and nursing sister volunteer began a support group for HIV positive mothers and babies which was attended by 15 mothers and their babies. The positive effect of the support group for the members was evident in better health and morale. The sewing project and support group were mainly funded by individuals.

IN OCTOBER 2002 CATCH PROJECT WAS REGISTERED as a Section 21 Non Profit Company with an interim board of the Highway Community Church elders supporting the founding member. The vision for CATCH was validated by the elders as a vision from the Lord whose great heart for the poor and especially children was made clear to them. The name CATCH was an acronym for Caring, Affirming, Training Children and became its vision statement. The founding member believes the scriptures given by the Lord at this time were Isaiah chapter 58 and Luke chapter 5.

In 2003 the three projects namely, Saturday Club, Sewing Training and Support Group continued with success in the school and the rented premises. The founder member submitted a proposal to Daimler Chrysler South Africa for funding to obtain premises near or in the target community. In October 2003 a smallholding on the perimeter of the settlement was identified. A donation from a trust MZAMOMHLE AID provided for a deposit on the property and Daimler Chrysler provided the balance to secure the property for CATCH. On 1 November the property was registered in the name of CATCH Projects.

IIn February 2004 the Support Group and Sewing Project moved to the new site although Saturday Club remained at the School. Funding was received from various sources and this together with the visibility of being placed on a prime site enabled CATCH to expand its

work and make relationships with other organisations working in the community. Partnerships with St Bernards Hospice, Christelike Maatskaplike Raad, Cotlands, Hope Worldwide were formed.

Relationships with Community leaders, schools, clinics and other community stakeholders were further nurtured and consolidated.

In January 2008 an important partnership was formed with Sophumelela. Sophumelela is a VCT clinic in East London City. It also provides ARV’s and a monitoring service to patients with AIDS.

As the clinic was costly for CATCH beneficiaries to visit,

Sophumelela was invited to set up a clinic at CATCH.

In February 2009 CATCH acquired a new partner namely Canaan

Centre. Staff from Canaan Centre visit CATCH every Friday

morning to provide support and training for mothers and their

brain damaged children.

In April 2009 CATCH searched for 70 of the most destitute

families in the community. Parents attended a weekly

meeting for 8 weeks and have constituted a group called

“Siyakhula” which means “We grow together”. The families

were helped with access to government grants, grow food

at CATCH and receive life skills awareness training. It is

hoped in time when these members are able to care for

themselves they will be able to reach out to their

neighbours in the community.

Sue Davies

(Founding member of CATCH)