#bethefamily
Every child deserves a family. Not just a safe place to sleep — a family.
Children's homes do vital work, but they were never meant to be permanent. Institutional life can leave deep marks on a child's sense of belonging, and for many young people who "age out" of the system, homelessness is the next chapter.
We want to rewrite that story.
Here's something that might surprise you: research suggests that up to 80% of children living in children's homes actually have family. Many even go home during school holidays. The separation isn't always permanent — it just needs a bridge.
That's what we try to be.
We work alongside Child and Youth Care Centres (children's homes) to:
-
Reunite children with their families — practically and safely, walking with both the child and the family through the process
-
Find alternative family connections — for those who can't go home, we help connect young people with caring adults from the local church community: a place on the sofa, a seat at the dinner table, someone who shows up consistently
-
Support CYCCs with practical development, strengths-based tools, and training
-
Support foster carers and families navigating the system
Of South Africa's estimated 4 million orphans, only around 22,000 live in children's homes. That means most are already with family — just families that need support. What an opportunity.
A note on what we don't do
We're not an adoption agency and can't assist with abandoned babies or private adoptions. Our focus is specifically on children already in the care system. Everyone who works with us is police-checked and fully vetted before any contact with children.