Children’s Home
Founded in 2001, Baphumelele Children’s Home was a humble woman’s response to an alarming situation. Rosie Mashie had no money when she decided to provide a home and place of safety to children who were orphaned, abandoned, abused, and neglected, but she had a vision, a big heart, a lot of resolve, andthe constant support of her community.
The children’s home now provides these orphans and vulnerable children with a stable, loving, and permanent home. It also serves as a place of safety for children in crisis 24 hours a day. Children are sometimes brought to Baphumelele by police or social services as a temporary place of refuge, others have been in Baphumelele’s care for some years. At any given time there are over 100 children between 0 and 18 years of age, being cared for and accommodated. Because of the wide age range, many families of siblings who otherwise would have to be separated are placed together at Baphumelele.
Fountain of Hope
Baphumelele Fountain of Hope is directed toward young people aged 18-21, who have been raised in residential care or who have recently been orphaned or who are vulnerable, with a safe and nurturing environment to transition positively towards adulthood.
Fountain of Hope provides a platform for youth that are not in formal education, employment, or training to learn the necessary skills to contribute to society economically and socially and to allow those youth still in high school to finish their education. (Click for our VIDEO)
Child Headed Households
Children that reside in households that have been affected by HIV/AIDS have reduced opportunities for growth and development and increased vulnerability to disease and destitution. These children live in poor housing and, due to lack of responsible adults and security, they often in fear at the threat of abuse or harm. Left without parents, there is no regular income and therefore no means to look after themselves.
The Child Headed Homes project aims to support these children through mentorship and direct intervention. By keeping the siblings together in a community that they know, they are then able to stabilize and to develop together as a family. Support is prioritized into five key areas – food parcels, education & work experience, emotional & psycho-social support, healthcare, and legal assistance – all with the aim of rebuilding these young children’s lives and enabling them to go forward together as a strong family unit.
Educare Centre & Grade R
Baphumelele Educare Centre & Grade R offers a holistic care facility for the children of Khayelitsha and its surroundings. Our facility cares for children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years by providing a daycare centre that serves to nurture the full potential of each learner while also developing a life-long learner who is confident, independent, literate, numerate, multi-skilled, and compassionate, with respect for the environment and the ability to participate in society as a capable and active citizen.
Clemens (Child Respite Centre)
The Respite Care Centre for Children, otherwise known as Clemens, offers short-term respite care for children suffering from HIV/Aids, TB and other chronic diseases. Clemons also cares for their educational, psychological, and emotional needs in our facility which offers a clinic and treatment room as well as a play area which allows the children to live as normally as possible while they battle their illness. This project targets those children most in need of respite care and a safe, secure place to stay as they make the first steps towards a healthier future.
Bonita (Adult Respite Centre)
“Bonita” is Baphumelele’s Respite Care Centre; an effective operation working as a 16 bedded, intermediate facility for adults with HIV/Aids, TB and other chronic illnesses. Most of our patients are referred by local hospitals, clinics, or other health facilities for a 3-6 week restorative period. Patients are either too sick to go home from the hospital or do not have a home to go to. Our commitment is for these patients to be restored physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, and we ensure that this happens during their stay at Bonita. Our multi-disciplined team includes care-workers, professional nurses, a social worker auxiliary, doctors, and an administrative team who provide comprehensive and superior care/service to both individuals and groups of patients within the centre.
Hospice in the Home
Although there are healthcare facilities in Khayelitsha, many people struggle to access the clinics and hospitals, especially if they are too sick to travel or have no money for transportation. In order to address this need, our Hospice in the Home project was set up as an outreach program attached to the Respite Care Centre. Each day a team made up of a senior nurse and 3 carers walk through the poorest neighbourhoods offering medical support and attention to those who are house-bound.