St. George’s Home
Helping young people discover their strength, rebuild their confidence, and take the next step into independent adult life.
KEMPTON PARK, EKURHULENI · EST. 1915
Ages served
Young people between 14 and 21 years old, including those transitioning into adulthood through the Life Campus programme.
Our Focus
Learning disabilities, literacy, emotional healing, vocational training and life skills for independent living.
Where We Are
Our houses are located in the Kempton Park area, Ekurhuleni — providing a community-based home environment rather than institutional care.
A Century of Serving Young People
The Anglican Church established St. George’s Home in 1915 to care for destitute boys on the streets of Johannesburg — making it one of the oldest children’s homes in South Africa. For decades it operated from a single property, but in 1985 a pivotal decision was made: to move away from institutionalised care entirely.
Houses were purchased in the community — in Dawnview, Germiston, Edenvale, and Kempton Park — and girls were admitted into the programme for the first time. Children referred by the Children’s Court were now living in real homes, in real neighbourhoods, with a more normal way of life. The houses in Kempton Park became home to a specialised programme for young people over 16, known as the Life Campus.
In 2002, St. George’s became part of COACH — the Coalition of Anglican Children’s Homes — bringing its financial and administrative functions together with St. Nicolas Home under one coordinated organisation. In 2004, the home underwent a further transformation, shifting from custodial care to a fully therapeutic, life-space intervention model. This required a fundamental rethinking of how staff understood their role — and it changed everything.
Today, St. George’s Home continues to be a place where young people who have been failed by mainstream systems find the support, structure, and belief they need to move forward.
OUR PROGRAMMES
What We Offer
Every programme at St. George’s is designed around one goal — equipping young people with the tools to live independent, fulfilling lives.
Therapeutic Support & Counselling
Every young person who arrives at St. George’s begins their journey with our Social Worker, who provides individual counselling and therapy. This process helps each young person accept themselves, work through the experiences that brought them to us, and begin to see their own potential.
Our Social Worker also coordinates with external experts — bringing in specialists who can address specific therapeutic, medical, or developmental needs. Family members and support networks are included in the process wherever possible, because healing rarely happens in isolation.
Vocational Training
Once a young person completes their ABET Level 4, they are offered vocational training in a field of their choosing. The purpose is practical and purposeful — to give young people a marketable skill that can open doors to employment and economic independence.
Some young people have gone on to complete trade courses through St. Anthony’s in Reiger Park. Others have used their training to start their own ventures. Every path is different, but the goal is the same: to leave St. George’s not just with a certificate, but with real capability and confidence.
ABET Education Programme
Many of the young people who come to St. George’s have spent years in mainstream schools where they struggled or failed — not because they lacked ability, but because their learning needs were never properly identified or met.
Our accredited Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) programme runs five days a week, four hours a day, and covers seven learning areas: English Literacy, Mathematics, Natural Science, Social Science, Economics and Management Science, and Life Orientation. The programme spans Foundation Phase through to Level 4 — equivalent to Grade 9.
Young people who complete Level 4 are supported to enrol at an FET college or register for their ABET Matric, opening the door to further education and employment.
The Life Campus & Exit Programme
The Life Campus programme is specifically designed for young people over the age of 16 — many of whom come from street shelters and have had little or no formal education, and little experience of stable adult life.
Beyond education and vocational training, the Life Campus focuses on the practical social and life skills young people need to function as adults. For those who turn 18 and move outside the Social Welfare System, we offer a dedicated six-month Exit Programme covering essential adult skills: opening a bank account, writing a CV, preparing for job interviews, managing finances, and navigating the world independently.
From the Classroom to the Boardroom
Thabo and Lwazi arrived at St. George’s having spent years struggling in mainstream education. Visual learning challenges meant they couldn’t read the board — and without the right support, they fell further and further behind.
With funding from the National Lottery Commission, St. George’s acquired a projector screen and additional educational resources tailored to their needs. The results were immediate. Both young people completed their ABET Level 4 subjects with higher credits — and with a qualification equivalent to Grade 9, they now have the opportunity to register at an FET college or pursue their Matric.
For Thabo and Lwazi, it wasn’t just about passing. It was about being seen, supported, and given a real chance.
*Names changed to protect privacy
Our Professional Staff
St. George’s Home is staffed by a team of qualified professionals committed to the wellbeing of every young person in our care. Our team includes registered social workers, child and youth care workers, educators, and support staff, all of whom bring expertise, compassion, and dedication to their work every day.
COACH also runs accredited Social Work and Child & Youth Care Worker training programmes, giving back to the sector by developing the next generation of professionals.
Cebile Maseko
Programme Manager
Cebile Maseko is presently employed as the Programme Manager at Life Campus. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a post graduate qualification in Social Policy and Management both obtained from the University of Cape Town.
She has over 8 years experience in a residential setting and 5 years experience in management and leadership. Ms Maseko is passionate about making a difference in young people’s lives.
Rosina Ramonyai
Residential Social Worker
Rosina is a Social Worker with eight years of professional experience, demonstrating a strong passion for her field. She is committed to making a positive impact on individuals’ lives and facilitating meaningful change. Rosina obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of South Africa in 2017. She subsequently pursued further studies at the University of Pretoria, where she earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health in 2022.
Throughout her career, Rosina has dedicated significant time and effort to working with young people. She possesses a profound understanding of the challenges they face and recognizes the importance of providing psychosocial support to address their needs effectively.
Treasure Matlala
Skills Coordinator
Treasure Sepele Matlala is presently engaged as a Skills Coordinator at Life Campus. He holds professional qualifications as a Facilitator and possesses certifications in IT Technical Support (NQF Level 4), Community Development (NQF Level 5), Assessor (NQF Level 5), and General Security Practices (NQF Level 3).
With over 13 years of dedicated experience in community development and program facilitation, Mr. Matlala is deeply committed to fostering community growth and empowering youth to actively participate in the economy, thereby reducing dependence on government grants.
Witness Mfunwa Khumalo
Abet Teacher
Witness Khumalo (33 years old ) is currently employed as the Abet teacher at St George’s Life Campus. He has a bachelor’s degree in Education, higher certificate in Abet, Diploma in Information Technology, and an honors degree in inclusive education.
Witness has over 13 years experience working with young people providing psychosocial support through camps. These have enchanced his group facilitation skills.
Thato Francinah Thubakgale
Team Administrator
Highly motivated and experienced professional (28, female) with a strong foundation in
Tourism Management (National Diploma) and a passion for youth development (NQF 5
Youth Development Practitioner). Skilled in End User Computing (NQF 3) and committed
to financial independence (Financial Independence Certificate).
With a diverse work background, She has:
– 6 months of retail experience as a Webber Clothing team member
– 2 years of experience as a Computer Facilitator, empowering others with IT skills
– 2 years of experience in Help Desk and Job Placement, providing support and
guidance to individuals
– 3+ years of experience as a Team Administrator, driving administrative excellence and team success