Thirteen-year-old Anathi Mayacu is enjoying every minute of a soccer game he is playing at the Power-Child Campus in Mfuleni, Cape Town. The campus is filled with the laughter of youngsters on the soccer pitch. It is an unsurprisingly chilly spring day, but this does not deter them.

The Power-Child Campus is the first of its kind in South Africa. The campus is a haven for abused children. It's not hard to see that the children here feel safe and at home.

"I have learnt a lot about HIV/Aids and my soccer skills have improved. This has been a great experience for me and I will definitely tell all my friends about what I have learned today,” says Anathi.

Power-Child is an initiative of Martin J. Krug, alongside the German actress Veronica Ferres, the patron of the association.

The need for the campus at Mfuleni was motivated by the high rate of sexual violence in South Africa. Many children who are victims of sexual violence don't have places to turn to. Power-Child aims to become a place of safety for child abuse victims.

The haven will shelter six boys and six girls. The campus will keep the children for three months during which they will receive counselling from professionals. At the end of the term they will be reintegrated back to the community.

As an alternative, Power-Child will train parents from the community to become possible foster parents. The association believes that every child deserves a home.

The Power-Child concept is based on including the whole family and the upcoming 2010 Soccer World Cup is integrated into the concept. The organisation has decided to build two soccer pitches on the grounds which will be used to educate mainly boys as well as girls.

Says Krug: “Football brings people together in a unique way. Thus the idea was born for the Power-Child Campus, which in addition to the football and the campus, offers the opportunity to information, education and protection against abuse and violence. Football should help to reduce aggressions and should be a motivation for a better future.”

The campus will be running educational programmes which will educate people on HIV/Aids, human rights, child abuse and life skills.

Power-Child is determined in improving the lives of the people in the township; they are not only focusing on children - young people and parents are welcome at the campus too. Not all South Africans have nourished meals and because of this the campus will also run a soup kitchen for children and adults everyday.

This initiative has opened doors to people of the community. They have hired women to cook and clean at the campus. They have eight soccer coaches, who were previously unemployed, to teach the children.

Luvuyo Msutwana (21), is a peer coach at the campus. "We were trained in Grass Roots soccer in June and have been training kids ever since. This has taken a lot of kids off the streets because now they have something to look forward to. I am proud to be associated with Power Child."

The opening of the campus earlier this month, attracted guests like actor Mario Ardof, German football coach Mirko Slomka, local councillors and Mayor of Cape Town Helen Zille.

Zille has been involved with Power-Child from day one. They asked her for land and she made a property of 3000m² available to the association.

During her speech she said: "People are soccer mad. This is a great way to get the community involved as it will prevent children from running around and falling prey to drug lords. The abused children will be in contact with people who can understand their pain."

Zille urged the community to work together with Power-Child and to use the facilities available to them.

Power-Child Campus will be funded exclusively by donations and sponsorships.

For more information, visit: The Power-Child Campus website.