Phoenix Child Welfare

THE BIRTH OF PHOENIX CHILD WELFARE

In 1976, the initial group of inhabitants settled in the Phoenix area. The period during 1976 and 1980 saw the fledgling community beset with numerous socio-economic problems, underlined by undeveloped infrastructure and limited facilities. Community volunteers and activists identified the need to establish a Welfare organisation in order to serve the indigent families. The founding members, who were members of the civic organisations, became members of local committees of the Verulam Child & Family Welfare Society.

Over the years, the area and the population grew rapidly and by December 1980, the workload had increased to such an extent that Verulam Child & Family Welfare Society could not cope. The South African National Council for Child & Family Welfare, together with the Verulam Child & Family Welfare Society and volunteers from the Phoenix community, took the necessary steps to form an autonomous Child & Family Welfare Society in Phoenix.
At a public meeting held in Phoenix under the auspices of Verulam Child & Family Welfare, Phoenix Child & Family Welfare Society was inaugurated on 08 March 1981.

Since those initial days, Phoenix Child Welfare has grown to become one of the ten largest welfare organisations in the country. The society is affiliated to Child Welfare South Africa and is a member of Ubuntu Community Chest.