What started as a dream to help underprivileged children a few years ago, has matured into five children’s homes around East London.
Reverend Hoppy Pohlmann explains how it all started with an HIV-positive child found abandoned in Reeston and taken into the home of another pastor. Ten months later, the child’s family resurfaced and took her back home. She died within two months.
This was where the dream to take care of unfortunate children originated, and the Khulunathi Cluster Foster Care (CFC) Homes was born.
Five years ago, two cluster homes were opened in Amalinda Forest where 12 children were accommodated, six in each house. Two years ago, another home was opened in Scenery Park.
Friday saw the grand opening of a further two homes in Scenery Park.
“We are so pleased with the turnout. Today is a huge success,” Pohlmann said. “We have six children per house to try and recreate a family unit. We also do not want to separate siblings. We always ensure that we keep them together.”
Pohlmann said each house had a “den mother” who cooked and did everything else the children’s mothers would be doing for them.
At the opening on Friday, representatives from the department of social development encouraged the community to support the den mothers.
Representatives from the local clinic urged the den mothers to be attentive to the children’s medical needs and to never hesitate to seek advice from the nearby clinic.
Pohlmann said it was wonderful that the land on which the new homes were built, was right next to the first Scenery Park home.
“When we enquired about this land, we learnt that it belonged to the Salvation Army – we negotiated a price and bought the land,” he said.
Den mother Nombulelelo Zamile said hers was a labour of love.
“I take care of six children in one of the Amalinda Forest homes and there is nothing else I would rather be doing. I want to love these children because they are vulnerable and they have no one else,” she said.
“I play the role that their mothers would play in their lives. I always teach them that no matter how disadvantaged they are, they can be anything they want to be and that I love them,” Zamile added.
Pohlmann said the department of social development provided a social grant for each child and the project also received donations.
The project provides homes for 30 children aged from two-and-a-half years to 16.
Dream sees two new children’s homes opened
Reverend Hoppy Pohlmann explains how it all started with an HIV-positive child found abandoned in Reeston and taken into the home of another pastor. Ten months later, the child’s family resurfaced and took her back home. She died within two months.
This was where the dream to take care of unfortunate children originated, and the Khulunathi Cluster Foster Care (CFC) Homes was born.
Five years ago, two cluster homes were opened in Amalinda Forest where 12 children were accommodated, six in each house. Two years ago, another home was opened in Scenery Park.
Friday saw the grand opening of a further two homes in Scenery Park.
“We are so pleased with the turnout. Today is a huge success,” Pohlmann said. “We have six children per house to try and recreate a family unit. We also do not want to separate siblings. We always ensure that we keep them together.”
Pohlmann said each house had a “den mother” who cooked and did everything else the children’s mothers would be doing for them.
At the opening on Friday, representatives from the department of social development encouraged the community to support the den mothers.
Representatives from the local clinic urged the den mothers to be attentive to the children’s medical needs and to never hesitate to seek advice from the nearby clinic.
Pohlmann said it was wonderful that the land on which the new homes were built, was right next to the first Scenery Park home.
“When we enquired about this land, we learnt that it belonged to the Salvation Army – we negotiated a price and bought the land,” he said.
Den mother Nombulelelo Zamile said hers was a labour of love.
“I take care of six children in one of the Amalinda Forest homes and there is nothing else I would rather be doing. I want to love these children because they are vulnerable and they have no one else,” she said.
“I play the role that their mothers would play in their lives. I always teach them that no matter how disadvantaged they are, they can be anything they want to be and that I love them,” Zamile added.
Pohlmann said the department of social development provided a social grant for each child and the project also received donations.
The project provides homes for 30 children aged from two-and-a-half years to 16.
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