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About us

OF THE CHILDREN FOUND FAMILIES IN ONE YEAR

0 %

Who are we?

A home where orphans and vulnerable children are blessed with possibilities. With a caring, protective and nurturing childhood where they can thrive.

Our vision: to provide a turning point opportunity of personal and individualised nurturing care for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Our philosophy is

01

PROVERBS 22:6

“Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it.”

02

PROV 22:6 – NIV –

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.”

03

MATT 19:14

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

At Hearts of Hope, this means a focus on self-worth, their role in society, developing good morals and ethics within each child.
Our care of the children from a physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional perspective is guided by the following values

The hearts of hope story

Hearts of Hope began as a group of Christian volunteers volunteering at a children’s home in Johannesburg city centre in 1997. By the year 2000, South Africa was confronted by an HIV crisis in South Africa and by 2003, the pandemic was at almost intolerable levels. Whilst volunteering at the children’s home, what became increasingly evident was the negative impact on the children of institutional care; as well as the lack of personal identity in terms of care, clothing, physical needs and emotional development.

Many of the children that we were visiting on a weekly basis, were dying of HIV/AIDs as there was no access to treatment. This was a devastating situation, and led us to conclude the following:

• we could no longer do nothing;
• and what we were doing presently wasn’t enough

Hearts of Hope was thus established as an ecumenical organisation in 2003 with the goal of purchasing a home for 6 orphaned and abandoned children, providing 24 hour personal care in a Christian home environment with the help of a dedicated house mom. ARV’s at that time were costing R2400 per month per child and whilst we couldn’t afford funding for a large institution, we could fundraise for treatment for fewer children. In faith, we purchased a house in Wendywood, Johannesburg, South Africa and began our Hearts of Hope journey. We now have four properties in the Wendywood area.

Having started with 6 children, we now care for 52 children at any one time. Since 2003, over 260 children have lived in the home. The last 4 years have seen 16 – 20 children leave annually to be reunited with family or to be adopted.

How we work

We have four properties in Johannesburg which are divided into 9 homes of 4 – 7 children where babies and children are cared for by housemothers. Our priority is that the children are placed in a home environment where they can grow up protected and cared for.

We provide a ‘turning point’ in their lives through the following programmes:

1

Nutrition and Wellbeing

The provision of over 75 000 meals on an annual basis to ensure a balanced diet and meeting of the specialised dietary needs of chronic medical conditions.

2

Education: Young
Children

The children are provided with the best possible education interventions that sets them on their future path. We have an on-site early childhood development (ECD) centre where the young children from 18 months receive trauma informed education which is grounded in the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy.

3

Education: Older
Children

The children are provided with the best possible education interventions that sets them on their future path. The older children attend the local government primary school and in the afternoons are provided with extra lessons, homework and project assistance.

4

Medical and Therapy
Interventions

Each child has access to therapeutic care in the form of play therapy, occupational therapy and counselling. Daily monitoring and partnerships with medical professionals ensures the health of each child.

Our history

Sustainable development goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.

They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
Hearts of Hope hopes to achieve and work towards the below goals:

National development plan

The NDP aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. According to the plan, South Africa can realise these goals by drawing on the energies of its people, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capacity of the state, and promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society.

Drawing on our collective successes and failures as a nation, we need to do more to improve our future. On the present trajectory, South Africa will not achieve the objectives of eliminating poverty and reducing inequality.

There is a burning need for faster progress, more action and better implementation. The future belongs to all of us and it is up to all South Africans to make it work. The approach of the plan revolves around citizens being active in development, a capable and developmental state able to intervene to correct our historical inequities, and strong leadership throughout society working together to solve our problems. The plan addresses the need to enhance the capabilities of our people so that they can live the lives that they desire; and to develop the capabilities of the country so that we can grow faster, draw more people into work and raise living standards for all, but particularly the poor. This is a plan for South Africa, requiring action, change and sacrifice from all sectors of society.

South Africa belongs to all its peoples...

Now, in 2030, our story keeps growing as if spring is always with us.
Once, we uttered the dream of a rainbow. Now we see it, living it. It does not curve over the sky.
It is refracted in each one of us at home, in the community, in the city, and across the land, in an abundance of colour.
When we see it in the faces of our children, we know: there will always be, for us, a worthy future.
Our future – make it work South Africa belongs to all its peoples.
We, the people, belong to one another. We live the rainbow. Our homes, neighbourhoods, villages, towns, and cities are safe and filled with laughter.
Through our institutions, we order our lives.
The faces of our children tell of the future we have crafted.

”~ Poem quoted in the plan