INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD CARE IN URBAN SOUTH AFRICA

needy, and destitute.” In most of the center’s promotional material, on the walls of its
offices, and even on the sides of its buildings, this mission statement is often followed by
one of Pastor Mike’s favorite quotes: “There are many things in life that can wait. The
needs of a child is not one.” Such a mission statement speaks largely to the urgency that
drives the organization’s work. While the origin of the center was that of a church
ministry, and while it is significantly funded through the support of international
churches, 5Cees is open to providing care to all children regardless of religion, race,
gender, or sexuality. While the children it has cared for throughout its history have shown
diversity in three of these four categories, all of its residents have been black.
While the mission statement is written very broadly, the “practical ways” it refers to
are further broken down by the center’s management into the following categories:
. The “basic” needs such as education, food, and clothing.
. Therapy and counseling to help children deal with past traumas.
. Support to children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and
. Support to children who have been abandoned, abused, or deprived.
Navigating Tensions
Throughout the course of my time in Johannesburg, I would continually discover
more ways in which the center was faced with the challenge of striking a delicate balance
between two contrasting options. The balance between discipline and patience with
misbehaviors was one such tension that was especially prominent among the younger
children. As children grow up, there are increasing tensions between the desire to
continue to support and provide for them while still nurturing independence. At almost all
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