Building safer, more independent lives
Amos Trust partners with uMthombo Street Children to support young people living on the streets of Durban, helping them build safer, more independent lives.
30 years after the end of apartheid, South Africa continues to face deep-rooted inequalities: 40% of the population lives in poverty, 46.1% of young people are unemployed and the country has among the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the world. Rapidly increasing drug misuse further heightens risks for vulnerable young people.
Since its formation in 2005, uMthombo has focused on supporting young women who arrive in Durban seeking a better life but often end up in unsafe, precarious situations. Many are escaping domestic violence and poverty at home, and some are forced into sex work or become dependent on drugs and exploitative relationships. Many live — sometimes with their babies — in abandoned buildings, informal settlements or illegal hostels.
uMthombo’s Young Women’s Programme offers a lifeline through three key components: outreach, detox support and an Independent Living Programme.
Outreach
Outreach workers regularly visit the streets, building trust and extending an open invitation to access uMthombo’s programmes. Over time, women are introduced to the detox programme and offered entry into the comprehensive Independent Living Programme.
Detox away from the streets
For those in need, uMthombo offers a two-week residential detox programme in a tranquil natural setting, away from the pressures of street life. The programme begins with a seven-day medical detox followed by a natural detox process, providing a reflective environment to reset and take the first steps toward recovery.
Independent Living Programme
uMthombo offers a pathway to recovery.
Young women from the detox programme or those who have built relationships through outreach can join the Independent Living Programme. This six-month supported accommodation includes life skills training, support in caring for children, securing identification documents, education and preparation for employment.
“uMthombo helped me a lot. Now, my life has changed. I no longer use drugs, and I live in a proper place. I've been provided with food, and they have paid for my room. They also helped me get an identity document, and I am on a waiting list to be enrolled in the Work Readiness Programme.” uMthombo participant
Through these programmes, uMthombo enables young women to break free from exploitation and dependency, regain independence, rebuild their lives and create a stable future for themselves and their children.
Photography: Simphiwe Mdunge and Alison Sloane
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