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The National Summit for Vulnerable Children, hosted by Islamic Relief South Africa under the theme Together for Every Child, commenced with a day dedicated to understanding the landscape of orphan and child welfare in South Africa and advancing a more holistic approach to the care and development of vulnerable children.
Bringing together stakeholders from government, civil society and the child welfare sector, Day 1 provided an opportunity to examine existing interventions, share expertise, reflect on the challenges facing children and identify opportunities for more coordinated and sustainable support.
The programme opened with welcoming remarks from Yusuf Mohamed, CEO of Islamic Relief South Africa, and Abdelrahman Shat, Head of Programmes at Islamic Relief South Africa. Both highlighted the importance of bringing relevant sector partners together, recognising that meaningful and transformational change requires organisations and institutions to work collectively towards a shared purpose.
Offering an international perspective, Shabel Firuz, Head of Orphans and Child Welfare at Islamic Relief Worldwide, shared insights into global trends, emerging priorities and opportunities for collaboration within the sector. His contribution highlighted the value of drawing on international experiences while strengthening approaches that respond to the realities and needs of children within local communities.
A key moment of the programme was Dr Ngidi’s keynote address from the Institute of Afrikilogy, which explored the realities facing orphaned children in South Africa.
Her address challenged participants to look beyond statistics and conventional approaches to child welfare, placing the dignity, aspirations and potential of every child at the centre of the conversation.
A key message was that orphaned children should never be viewed as a social burden, but as individuals with hopes, dreams, and the potential to shape their own future. She reminded participants that until we see the light in a child’s eyes, none of the work we do truly matters. She also emphasised that individual acts of charity alone cannot address complex societal challenges.
Her reflections reinforced the importance of moving beyond immediate assistance towards interventions that consider the emotional, social, educational and developmental needs of every child.
Building on these discussions, Islamic Relief South Africa presented its Goal Getters project, demonstrating how structured support and personal development can create meaningful opportunities for children.
Through individual personal development plans, the project encourages children to reflect on their lives, identify their aspirations, establish goals and take ownership of their personal progress.
The initiative highlights the importance of investing in children beyond material assistance by providing them with the guidance, encouragement and tools to envision and work towards a brighter future.
A recurring message throughout the day’s discussions was that no single organisation or government department can independently address the challenges facing orphaned and vulnerable children.
Participants explored the importance of recognising the expertise, resources and existing strengths within the sector and finding ways to bring these together to maximise collective impact.
A particularly thought-provoking observation from the summit’s Master of Ceremonies challenged organisations to reconsider their approach to partnerships. Too often, organisations become concerned about whose logo appears on the items provided to children, rather than focusing on how they can work together to deliver better outcomes.
The observation prompted reflection on the importance of putting children’s needs ahead of organisational recognition and placing shared objectives at the centre of collaborative efforts.
The day continued with discussions on the work being undertaken by participating organisations, followed by an exercise to map existing service gaps and overlaps. This provided an opportunity to identify areas where greater coordination could improve service delivery, reduce duplication and ensure that children receive more comprehensive support.