Off The Street Kids (OTSK) was founded in 2008 to provide much needed support for marginalised children and young people in South Africa. OTSK’s first project is a programme for young people leaving residential care in Cape Town. Currently when a young person in care reaches the age of 18 state funding ceases and they are on their own.

There are a number of children’s homes providing care for under 18s in South Africa. However, when they have to leave at the age of 18 often they have no choice but to go and live on the streets because they have neither the skills to support themselves nor a home to return to.

Research has shown that, ill equipped to live by legitimate means, too often they end up in prison after falling into a downward spiral of drugs and crime.

Our goal is to help them develop their skills, further their education and provide them with somewhere to live, in order for them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible adults.