Ons Plek Projects

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Ons Plek Projects

Ons Plek is a real home in a rough life for Cape Town's invisible street children - the girls. The girls have left home to escape physical abuse and neglect.

“Ons Plek – a place for us!” was the delighted response of Cape Town’s invisible street children, the girls, when Ons Plek Shelter opened for them in 1988. Ons Plek is a 24-hour assessment centre and the only intake shelter for girls in Cape Town. This residential safe-house has 16 beds, but can accommodate up to 25 girls on mattresses. Providing 24-hour accommodation, counselling and education while undertaking the complex reunification process, is the key to our success. Ons Plek Projects consists of

• Ons Plek intake shelter for girls doing comprehensive assessment and development care with reunification as a priority.
• Siviwe second-phase shelter for girls focusing on therapeutic and developmental children’s home with reunification as a priority
• Ukondla – Community Project with prevention as a priority run at three venues in Philippi for boys and girls at risk of becoming street children. Each year almost 150 girls between 6 and 18 years leave home to fend for themselves on the streets of Cape Town. They report that they eat better on the street than they do at home. The female street children are the poorest of the poor. They have the lowest status at home and on the street. Our programme is designed to empower the girls to cope with life. While the girls adjust to a structured environment, our social worker and child care staff investigate home circumstances. For 95% there is a supervised return to their families who are helped to resolve their difficulties. The girls are empowered by instilling a sense of responsibility for themselves. Each girl must participate in household duties, including all cooking and shopping for the food. Household decisions are made by girls and staff together. We promote an active programme of vocational skills training using formal and informal programmes. Most girls attend school, with support from the homework tutor. Creative educational workshops help girls build important learning skills. Non-school going girls are also provided with work skills.

21/11/2025

11/11/2025

A huge Congratulations to one of our girls at Ons Plek, for achieving outstanding academic achievements. Distinctions in all her subjects and being chosen as a Prefect for 2026!

The entire Ons Plek family celebrates this incredible milestone with you — keep up the hard work.

07/11/2025

Thank You for an Unforgettable Experience!

A heartfelt thank you to Somila and the City of Cape Town, Recreation and Parks Department. for organizing 3 amazing hiking trips for the girls from Ons Plek Projects.

Your kindness and effort gave the girls a chance to explore nature, build confidence, and create joyful memories they’ll cherish for a long time. The laughter, teamwork, and sense of adventure made the hikes truly special!
We deeply appreciate your commitment to empowering and inspiring young girls — one step, one mountain, and one smile at a time. These Moments remind us how powerful kindness and community can be — helping our girls see the world beyond their walls and believe in their own strength

04/11/2025

We move out of 20 years of shacks in our Philippi commumity project, Ukondla!!!
Brand new: 2 classrooms, kitchen, office and toilets provided by our landlord, Cesvi. Thank you!
Ukondla has successfully reduced the Girl Street Children population by 97%.

Our 70+ Ukondla children are such a lovely group of children, all building their lives constructively despite a violent community.
Staff ask for paint to paint one wall white so they can then put all the kids hand prints on in paint. We need a vacuum cleaner. We planning to do a veggie garden so garden tools are needed. We will need another 2 steel tablesas well.

23/10/2025

To our 4 matriculants we wish you all the best as you start your final exams.

17/10/2025

Thank you to Absa Head Office for your donation.

11/09/2025

Always fun. Make the girls day. Join us!

08/07/2025

Our community program in Philippi, had a parent and children activity today. The focus was on parent child relationships. The Ukondla team had a role play where the children were the parents and parents the children, and the.children coming home from school. How they are received when sharing their day with the parents. It was great fun but serious in that parents were amazed at how they are perceived by their kids. Lots of lessons learnt.
The program runs every work day during the holidays.
PS please remember we need cardboard for the floors, carpets, rugs, blankets to alleviate the cold classrooms a little bit. Drop off at 7 Mallesen Rd, Mowbray earmarked for Ukondla.

25/06/2025

Seventy children huddle daily in our community homework project in Philippi. In cold cement floor tin shacks, while we await our new accommodation in December.
Please drop off any old carpets, rugs, blankets, rain gear at 7 Mallesen Rd, Mowbray. 021 686 4052.

17/06/2025

We are hiring. See link attached for more details.

12/06/2025

It's almost time to bid fare well to one of our seniors who will leave us to live independently in the community. We know how difficult it can be setting up a home so looking to help our young adult on this new chapter.

If you are able to help her with the following we would appreciate it.

Single bed sheets
Single bed duvet
Warm blanket
Pillow and pillow case
Kettle
Iron
Towels

Please contact nikki on 021 685 4052 if you have items to donate or a financial contribution to help buy.

14/04/2025

03/04/2025

The girls are getting ready for Easter. Could you help to fill our easter baskets with some easter eggs. If you are able to donate please contact Nikki on 021 685 4052.

Address

7 Malleson Road, 7700
Cape Town
7705

Website

http://www.onsplek.org.za/

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