In 1994, Yvonne Reynolds (who had started Options in Cape Town), called Laurie Edwall (in George) and asked her to meet with a young woman who had contacted her. The young woman just found out she was pregnant and was in a crisis. She was alone in her situation and needed to talk with someone.
From this appointment, the question, “Where would a young woman in George go who is in a pregnancy crisis?” emerged and (to cut a long story short), the end result was that Options Pregnancy Centre opened officially in March 1997. From these early beginnings, many teenagers, women, men, and their families have been helped through the ministry of Options as it has grown and expanded to what it is today.
During the early years, the staff and volunteers of Options realised that if Options was going to be relevant we would need to address the significant challenge of HIV/AIDS facing South Africa. In 2002, Options decided to widen its vision and mission to include reaching out to people who are facing HIV related crises. Options changed its name to Options Care Centre, renovated the office to make room for HIV testing, and reworked the vision and mission statements.
From this appointment, the question, “Where would a young woman in George go who is in a pregnancy crisis?” emerged and (to cut a long story short), the end result was that Options Pregnancy Centre opened officially in March 1997. From these early beginnings, many teenagers, women, men, and their families have been helped through the ministry of Options as it has grown and expanded to what it is today.
During the early years, the staff and volunteers of Options realised that if Options was going to be relevant we would need to address the significant challenge of HIV/AIDS facing South Africa. In 2002, Options decided to widen its vision and mission to include reaching out to people who are facing HIV related crises. Options changed its name to Options Care Centre, renovated the office to make room for HIV testing, and reworked the vision and mission statements.
OUR VISION
The vision of YFC Options is to impact and develop youth and families who face pregnancy and HIV related crises.
OUR MISSION
The mission of YFC options is to impact and develop healthy youth and families by providing information and support to those facing pregnancy and HIV related crises, empowering them spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally.
OUR TEAM
Currently Options Care Centre has eleven staff and approximately forty volunteers who carry the passion and are involved in the mission of Options. The YFC Board oversees Options and ensures good financial accountability and practices.
Youth For Christ is an international non-denominational organisation that reaches out to youth all over the world. Options Care Centre is a project of YFC in George and other local projects include Kidstop and the Schools Team that uses the GOLD peer education model of impacting teenagers.
