About Us
Vision
Nthando
means love in Xhosa. Love is one of the fundamental emotions every child needs to feel, experience, receive and give. Nthando therefore seeks to offer vulnerable children the opportunity to receive this love through various acts of service. From assisting in basic needs, to supporting in their development and learning potential.
Our Vision
present the Good News and love of Jesus Christ to vulnerable and at risk children, by addressing their fundamental right to education.
We strive
to encourage a healthy home environment, by bringing them into contact with the Christian principles as we work with them;
We aim.
to meet foundation phase learners (Educare-grade 2) psych-socio-emotional needs and to provide the relevant therapeutic services to them, while attending The Ark Christian School.
to provide a solid learning foundation to all foundation phase learners, in order for them to successfully progress into the next grade, with parental support and encouragement.
History
The vision for Nthando Home of Safety began with founding Director, Caraleigh Otto. Through her work with children as an Occupational therapist at a Cape Town hospital, Otto often witnessed parents leaving their children at hospitals because they simply could not care for them.
Realising this need existed in the Boland as well, Otto set about creating Nthando Home of Safety. “Nthando” means love, which is the foundation of the home, and the motto of the board: “What love can do” through the work of the home we seek to show what love can do for vulnerable children, by providing them with a place of safety where they can be loved, nurtured and eventually adopted into loving homes.
It is our vision to care and support the vulnerable children in our communities. To provide them with love, and assistance wherever we can, in order to develop their potential and make their futures brighter.
2012 – 2014 saw Nthando caring for 19 children, placing them all in homes, either foster, adoptive or back with their parents.
2015 has seen Nthando form a partnership with The Ark Christian School in Mfuleni, assisting them in supporting the grade R learners in successfully reaching Grade 1.
We provide regular occupational therapy to learners that are struggling with learning difficulties, refer individual cases to paediatricians or other health professionals where indicated, and are equipping their teachers (both foundation phase and their creche) with training opportunities.
Our Needs
In order to be effective, resources and funds are needed. These include:-
- books (Grade 1 and 2 level 1-4 readers) for our literacy programme; stationary (pencils, erasers, crayons, glue, scissors
and paper); - Funds to assist us in sending the teachers on training and upgrading class resources; items for our Winter Warmer Hampers (or funds towards buying wellie boots);
- Additionally we are striving to develop partnerships with community organisations that can address medical (doctor visits, speech therapy, audiology etc.), legal, psychological, educational and physical needs of The Ark Schools foundation phase learner, allowing us to assist, empower and equip teachers and staff to direct and monitor the learning progress of each child they come into contact with in their class.
So if you are able to provide any of the above services, we need you!
Testimonies
Our first child
“Baby Noel was the first little blessing to live at Nthando Home of Safety. She was placed with us as soon as we opened our doors because the home of safety she was at was too full. She was found abandoned in a ditch behind a well-known shopping centre in the baking December heat. Noel was registered as a special needs baby, when she arrived at four months of age, she was diagnosed with multiple developmental delays including neurological, visual and audio delays. After ten months of being in a loving and caring environment, along with Occupational Therapy assessments and home programmes, Noel began to show drastic improvements in these areas, developing into a happy, healthy and normal baby girl. After staying at Nthando for ten months, Noel is now living with her prospective adoptive parents.”
Baby Noel
Sweet baby girl
“Little Kate’s teenage mother simply could not care for her without support and without welfare. Baby Kate was sent to Nthando at just six weeks of age. While she was here she was loved and cared for, establishing a healthy routine as is normal for happy babies. Kate was adopted by a tender-hearted aunt after five weeks of living at Nthando.”
Baby Kate
Our rough-and-tumble boy
“People are always surprised to hear that Nthando Home of Safety cares for vulnerable white children too. Young Kyle, at age 5, was one of the oldest children the Home has taken in. He had suffered severe abuse from his family and was eventually taken from them and placed in our safe home. In Kyle’s case, social welfare unsuccessfully attempted to reconcile with his family members on several occasions. This playful little chap has since been placed in foster care with one of our kind-hearted volunteers after living at Nthando for six months. Kyle continues to undergo therapy, as does his family.”
Young Kyle
A happy ending
“Jack’s mom fell pregnant with him through an inter-cultural relationship, losing the support of her family. Single and unemployed, she couldn’t care for him, and so he came to stay with us. She was, however, dedicated to getting her life on track, and regularly came to visit her little boy. They developed a strong and healthy relationship while he was cared for at the home. Through social intervention using reconciliation services, Jack’s grandmother took her daughter back in, she found employment, and Jack was able to move back home to mom, where every child should be.”
Jack's mom
A little Princess
“Rebecca stayed with Nthando for six months after her biological mother gave her up for adoption. Several times her mother withdraw consent, which made finding Rebecca a new home quite difficult. Her stay in the house was one of joy and laughter, and she developed in leaps and bounds. She started walking at 9 months, so one can imagine how much energy this little bundle had. After court dates and family visits with her prospective adoptive parents, our beautiful girl is now living in Johannesburg with her elated adoptive parents and is doing well.”
Rebecca
A bright future
“Kegan came to us from a traumatised background. Both of his parents are drug addicts, and he was being cared for by his grandparents. After his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, they could no longer look after him, and at age four he was placed with us. He had a rough time when he first arrived, and he often displayed symptoms of secondary drug use. He adjusted to the routine of the home and responded to therapeutic interventions. He has since been placed in another home in Worcester.”
Kegan
Our 2013 baby
“Little Kelly is our first baby of the year. Her family is familiar with the welfare system, as her older sibling was removed from their care several years ago. Kelly, though traumatised on arrival, has been making good progress in our care.”
Little Kelly
Newsletters
Gallery
2018 Activities
Mandela Day 2017
First Aid Course
Winter Warmer's
Hampers
Mandela Day
Documents
Constitution
Chairman's Report 2018
Chairman's Report 2017
Chairman's Report 2016
Chairman's Report 2014
Chairman's Report 2013
2010 Nthando © | Somerset West | 7130 | Phone 083 232 3060 |
NPO Number: 077-148 NPO, Registered in terms of the Nonprofit Organizations Act of 1997
PBO Number: 930033182, Registered in terms of Act No.71 of 1997