Ikhaya Likababa Orphanage and Transition house!
Well, I have certainly found a passion here in South Africa that can keep me busy and keep me challenged! On the surface there does not appear to be a baby crisis or HIV/Aids crisis but spend some time with Sean and Melanie Grant and you will get a totally different picture! There are thousands of babies abandoned or given up for a number of reasons in South Africa every year. What a sad, sad situation. Melanie said that some people feel such shame about not coping or wanting to continue caring for their child (most likely because they themselves require urgent care because of HIV or Aids) that they abandoned them in outhouses, bushes, rivers and rural areas. The very fortunate ones are found and brought to a home for care. Others of course are not!
Melanie posted a recent article on her web page about a baby found in an outhouse. She was found and I can only imagine that God must have big plans for her. The stories remind me of Mosses in his basket floating on the Nile, God's precious hand upon that basket, guiding, directing and protecting! I will post a link to Ikhaya Likababa's web page at the end. I will also cut and paste my cover letter that I am using to fund raise (mostly cut and pasted from Melanies proposal letter!!!) after this if you want more information about the orphanage.
I have met some wonderful people here working at Ikhaya Likababa. Volunteers come from all over the world to share their times and talents with us. Melanie works hard to place the volunteers in families from their church where they are hosted for their stay. So far I have met Daniel from Saskatchewan (here for six months!), Greta from Germany (but living in Italy) and Claire from Seattle. There is also a huge number of local people from Durban and Empangeni that come daily and assist with all jobs from bring water in, hauling the garbage, bringing supplies, dropping in to say hello and provide a hug and wipe a tear! I am amazed at the huge hearts of these people who have come to give of themselves to make a difference in the babies lives.
Below I have posted some pics from our days helping out. We help out on Tuesdays and Fridays. The kids also help out and serve and the hours work towards their school credits. I have been given the daunting task of fundraising (have you noticed!!) because of my gifts of organization and my love for paper work!!! The binder was overwhelming at first and the thoughts impossible. I am beginning to see that people of huge hearts.
I ask that if you are moved in any way by this situation you could support us in any way. Support doesn't always mean money as we depend on everything through peoples donations. the entire running and functioning of the Orphanage is through sponsorship and donations. I will list a few items that we are desperately in need of. If you feel at all like you would like to send a package please post it directly to me and I will personally take it out and ensure it is utilized immediately and with great thanksgiving. Ikhaya Likababa is a registered Non Profit Organization and tax receipts can be issued on request. I can also send a copy of the NPO (non profit organization certificate) via email if you would like. Thank you so much if you feel moved to help us out!
We are almost at full capacity right now and desperately need diapers size large (for toddlers), formula (any at the moment!), baby care supplies such as body wash, creams, Tylenol, large black garbage bags, children' tooth brushes, children's tooth paste, baby vitamins, pablum, gently used baby clothes including premie outfits.....I am sure you are getting the picture of our needs.
thanks for reading about us and enjoy the pictures. We loved being there and spending our time with these precious little ones.
Mailing address:
Karen Morgenstern
c/o Private Bag X 6032
Sundumbili Health Center
Mandeni, South Africa
4490
(or you can mail directly to Melanie at here address on the web page!)
iKhaya likaBaba is a non-profit organization based in uMhlatuze, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The name iKhaya likaBaba is a zulu phrase which means "house of the Father". Its inception and creation took place in the hearts of a group of caring individuals. With the onslaught of Aids/HIV on families and the hopelessness of poverty - we saw a need to create an alternative. A place where abandoned babies and AIDS orphans could find a place of shelter, but mostly love. Where these precious children could know love and be cared for in the way that they deserve.
We provide excellent care that is individually culturally appropriate and situated within the community of Empangeni for abandoned babies. With a trained and skilled staff of caregivers, nurses, occupational therapist, doctors, physical therapists , we provide the best level of medical and physical care targeted and developing each child to its full age appropriate potential and laying the correct foundations for childhood development.
Within iKhaya likaBaba you will find:Family: A family home with house parents assisted by volunteers and caregivers.Holistic and comprehensive care: This includes HIV/AIDS testing with antiretroviral treatment; clothing; nutrition; childhood development assessments and activities that are recreational as well as being culturally appropriate, love, care, safe environment, real family life, a home and not an institution.
Education: Though the children that come to iKhaya likaBaba are generally 0 - 3 years of age, we aim to ensure that developmental games, activities and play are created to create an environment rich with learning experiences and at best being as close to an environment that these children would have experienced at home.
Recreation: outings, age appropriate activities, lots of laughter and fun.
Community Relations: Close partnership with the Department of Social Services, Child Welfare, Police and Hospitals to ensure that the intake of children is done quickly and effortlessly to ensure a child's well being and safety.
Adoption and Foster Care: Every effort is made to place a child in a loving family permanently or through foster care as soon as possible. This is done with the assistance of the Department of Social Services and local adoption agencies.
Family Integration ProgrammeThe growing number of orphans is a well-documented, potentially explosive health and social problem.The most appropriate strategy to deal with orphans is a community-based strategy. However, thecommunities most affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa, are socio-economically disadvantaged andhave limited resources to cope with the growing number of orphans, as well as care for the dying.
Our intervention is an ancillary strategy to cope with orphans. We have atransition home, in which up to 6 (this will be increased to 15 in 2009) babies can be cared for at a time,
and then placed into suitable families - either their own extended families, adoptive, or foster families. The success of the model is determined by the speed at which orphans are placed into suitable families.
The direct beneficiaries of the transition home are the babies who have been orphaned or abandoned as a result of HIV and socio-economic conditions. Without our intervention, these babies would probably be placed in (and potentially remain in) a large institution, and receive a minimum amount of love and care. Further to this, we are able to increase the scope of communities that deal with HIV/AIDS orphans. We are linked to a local church in Empangeni and have access to church networks around the city. It is in these families that we encourage fostering and adoption. This broadens the involvement and response to the AIDS crisis.
Objectives of iKhaya LikababaProvide high quality care and permanent placement into a suitable family for 10 babies per year. Ithas been documented that show remarkable improvements in their health and well being, as a resultof moving from institutional care, to personalized care. Impacting families that are not yet responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis by making them aware of theneeds that exist and encouraging them to explore ways of assisting themselves and their children.
Support for dying mothers: We are linked to a project that supports 300 orphans within their communities.There are a number of mothers on the project that are reaching a terminal stage of the disease.These women have small babies, and some have no family to whom they can turn to take care oftheir babies. HIV infected women who verbalise their fears always mention their biggest concernbeing: "What will happen to my child?" These women need the comfort of knowing someone will carefor their child. We are available to the women to take up the responsibility of caring for their babies,with their consent. Babies cared for in the transition homeThe size of the home allows us to maintain a loving family atmosphere. Each baby has already beenthrough a traumatic experience in their short lives and individual love and attention is essential to theirhealing. We only accommodate 6 babies (increasing to 15 in 2009)at any one time. We will provide them with medical,physical, spiritual and emotional care and restoration.
At Ikhaya Likababa Orphanage our intention is to make a notable impact in our families,
community and in South Africa. There are thousands of children being abandoned throughout South Africa every year who need a solution and a place of hope and destiny. We believe that our home can effectively provide a safe, loving and nurturing environment for them, saving them from death or institutional care where they get lost in the system. We ask that you would be willing to support Ikhaya Likababa with any support that you could. We graciously appreciate your time and consideration in helping us!
Most Sincerely,
Karen Morgenstern RN BScN (volunteer worker)
Ikhaya Likababa
Home phone (032) 454-0081
karen@ikhayalikababa.co.za
http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za/
We provide excellent care that is individually culturally appropriate and situated within the community of Empangeni for abandoned babies. With a trained and skilled staff of caregivers, nurses, occupational therapist, doctors, physical therapists , we provide the best level of medical and physical care targeted and developing each child to its full age appropriate potential and laying the correct foundations for childhood development.
Within iKhaya likaBaba you will find:Family: A family home with house parents assisted by volunteers and caregivers.Holistic and comprehensive care: This includes HIV/AIDS testing with antiretroviral treatment; clothing; nutrition; childhood development assessments and activities that are recreational as well as being culturally appropriate, love, care, safe environment, real family life, a home and not an institution.
Education: Though the children that come to iKhaya likaBaba are generally 0 - 3 years of age, we aim to ensure that developmental games, activities and play are created to create an environment rich with learning experiences and at best being as close to an environment that these children would have experienced at home.
Recreation: outings, age appropriate activities, lots of laughter and fun.
Community Relations: Close partnership with the Department of Social Services, Child Welfare, Police and Hospitals to ensure that the intake of children is done quickly and effortlessly to ensure a child's well being and safety.
Adoption and Foster Care: Every effort is made to place a child in a loving family permanently or through foster care as soon as possible. This is done with the assistance of the Department of Social Services and local adoption agencies.
Family Integration ProgrammeThe growing number of orphans is a well-documented, potentially explosive health and social problem.The most appropriate strategy to deal with orphans is a community-based strategy. However, thecommunities most affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa, are socio-economically disadvantaged andhave limited resources to cope with the growing number of orphans, as well as care for the dying.
Our intervention is an ancillary strategy to cope with orphans. We have atransition home, in which up to 6 (this will be increased to 15 in 2009) babies can be cared for at a time,
and then placed into suitable families - either their own extended families, adoptive, or foster families. The success of the model is determined by the speed at which orphans are placed into suitable families.
The direct beneficiaries of the transition home are the babies who have been orphaned or abandoned as a result of HIV and socio-economic conditions. Without our intervention, these babies would probably be placed in (and potentially remain in) a large institution, and receive a minimum amount of love and care. Further to this, we are able to increase the scope of communities that deal with HIV/AIDS orphans. We are linked to a local church in Empangeni and have access to church networks around the city. It is in these families that we encourage fostering and adoption. This broadens the involvement and response to the AIDS crisis.
Objectives of iKhaya LikababaProvide high quality care and permanent placement into a suitable family for 10 babies per year. Ithas been documented that show remarkable improvements in their health and well being, as a resultof moving from institutional care, to personalized care. Impacting families that are not yet responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis by making them aware of theneeds that exist and encouraging them to explore ways of assisting themselves and their children.
Support for dying mothers: We are linked to a project that supports 300 orphans within their communities.There are a number of mothers on the project that are reaching a terminal stage of the disease.These women have small babies, and some have no family to whom they can turn to take care oftheir babies. HIV infected women who verbalise their fears always mention their biggest concernbeing: "What will happen to my child?" These women need the comfort of knowing someone will carefor their child. We are available to the women to take up the responsibility of caring for their babies,with their consent. Babies cared for in the transition homeThe size of the home allows us to maintain a loving family atmosphere. Each baby has already beenthrough a traumatic experience in their short lives and individual love and attention is essential to theirhealing. We only accommodate 6 babies (increasing to 15 in 2009)at any one time. We will provide them with medical,physical, spiritual and emotional care and restoration.
At Ikhaya Likababa Orphanage our intention is to make a notable impact in our families,
community and in South Africa. There are thousands of children being abandoned throughout South Africa every year who need a solution and a place of hope and destiny. We believe that our home can effectively provide a safe, loving and nurturing environment for them, saving them from death or institutional care where they get lost in the system. We ask that you would be willing to support Ikhaya Likababa with any support that you could. We graciously appreciate your time and consideration in helping us!
Most Sincerely,
Karen Morgenstern RN BScN (volunteer worker)
Ikhaya Likababa
Home phone (032) 454-0081
karen@ikhayalikababa.co.za
http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za/
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