Home from Home: providing children with a second chance at family

Since 2005, Home from Home (HfH) has opened its doors to orphaned, abused, neglected and vulnerable children in need of shelter and a warm, loving environment. The organisation has assisted hundreds of children to live happy and healthy lives through its 36 foster homes set up in the Western Cape, including four in the Eden Karoo region.

The non-profit organisation, founded 15 years ago by Jane Payne and Pippa Shaper, was one of the first in South Africa to be registered as a cluster foster care scheme, with no more than six children housed in each of the family units, with a dedicated foster mother. These foster mothers are assisted by social workers and support staff to help them care for the children.

Home from Home gives the children a family style of life through a care model that enables the organisation to bring up the young ones in the communities they come from, with staff who understand their cultural backgrounds.

This model of care also includes other nurturing components, such as therapeutic interventions, basic education, grant assistance, transitional support, and reunification, where it is possible to reunite children with their biological parents.

The organisation relies heavily on aid from fundraisers, associates, people supporting its sponsorship programmes and corporate financial donations to deliver high-quality care to ensure these vulnerable children grow up happy and become adults who contribute positively to society.

As a regular contributor to Home from Home’s fundraising efforts, the Elegant Group recently made a substantial donation of R50 000 towards providing loving homes to some of the most vulnerable in our communities.

“We’re so thankful to have had the support of the Elegant Group over the last couple of years. They’ve been a big part of our Two Oceans Marathon team, even sponsoring the running shirts for all 30 team members,” says HfH fundraising and communications coordinator Lala Mehl.

“Even though the Two Oceans Marathon was unfortunately cancelled this year, the Elegant Group has once again come forward and donated an amazing R50 000 towards the ongoing support of the children in our care,” she adds.

“It’s heart-warming to see the wonderful work that organisations such as Home from Home are doing to bring joy to those less fortunate,” says Elegant Fuel director Ryno Strydom. “Their work is heart-warming and an example of what communities must do to ensure children are brought up in a warm and loving environment.

“It’s important that we all lend a helping hand, especially during these difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic when so many of South Africa’s economically disadvantaged people are suffering, along with their children.”