How You Can Get Involved:
- Baby formula (Nestle Lactogen 1 & 2)
- Pull up Nappies (sizes 4-6)
- Baby shampoo
- Aqueous cream
- Bum cream
- Baby food (Fruit and veggie pouches and nestle cerelac)
- Baby wipes
We have many volunteers in and out of the baby home and it is such a blessing to have extra hands around to help! Our volunteer program is open to anyone who is eager to serve short-term at one of our baby homes. You will get to work alongside our nannies, care for our babies and help out within the home.
What To Expect:
● Spending time cuddling, feeding, and playing with babies
● Helping out with chores and house work
● Getting to know the nannies and baby home staff
● Assisting with the babies' development
How To Apply:
You are free to serve as you are able, since this program works according to your availability. Therefore, you will not be required to sign up for shifts or work a full shift. We welcome volunteers Monday-Friday, from 8:00-17:30. Please note that volunteering is by appointment only.
If you are considering short-term volunteering at one of our homes, or if you have any questions about our program, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Charissa Holdt, at holdtcharissa@gmail.com.
● Are you looking to set aside a period of 3-12 month for volunteer service?
● Are you interested in serving as a volunteer caregiver at our baby homes?
● Do you love the local church? Or want to grow in your love for it, as Jesus loves the Church?
● Do you desire to be discipled and grow in godliness?
● Are you excited about cross-cultural ministry?
The 1Hope4Africa Intern Program exists to provide godly ladies with an intensive season of service and discipleship, within the context of the local church, for the purpose of God-glorifying, Spirit-wrought conformity to the image of Christ. This is a volunteer program; interns are required to raise their own funds before coming and do not receive any compensation for their work while in Pretoria, South Africa.
● committed followers of Jesus Christ
● progressively growing in Christlikeness/godliness
● actively serving in their local church, which fully supports their desire to come serve with us
● servant-hearted, mature, flexible, and teachable
● able to communicate fluently in English (speaking, reading, and writing)
● at least 18 years old upon arrival in South Africa
● in possession of all required paperwork upon arrival in South Africa (passport, visa, etc.)
● able to fully fund their own expenses (to, from, and within South Africa)
● ideally, able to commit to serving with us for about 3 months (or longer if visas allow)
Although these are requirements, we do not expect our interns to be perfect. God is a God of grace and forgiveness who saves and then sanctifies His children. We are not looking for perfect ladies, only growing ladies. Healthy, hard-working adult saints of any age are welcome to apply. Ladies who come serve with us are singles/widows without children in the home.
Since 2012, we’ve enjoyed volunteers from sister churches in Germany, Malawi, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.
● Actively participate in church life at Living Hope Church (LHC) (https://livinghopechurch.co.za/)
● Meet weekly for discipleship with the Intern Coordinator or another godly lady from Living Hope Church
● Work 5-6 shifts a week at the Muphamuzi Baby Home or Atlarela Baby Home caring for orphaned and abandoned babies which typically range from 0-2 years old
● Serve LHC and 1Hope4Africa in other ways which fit their unique, God-given gifts .
How To Apply:
If you’d like more information, to apply, or have questions, please contact Claire Scheideman at thescheidemans@gmail.com. Please include an introduction in your email letting us know a little about yourself, how you heard about our volunteer program, and the time period you would consider interning. Our coordinator will send you more details on our internship and how to apply.
*Please note that interns are long-term volunteers who serve full-time for 3-12 months. If you are considering short-term volunteering for a few weeks at one of the baby homes please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Charissa Holdt, at holdtcharissa@gmail.com.
Overview:
Muphamuzi Baby home
Our Story
Meet The House Parents
Atlarela Baby home
Our Story
Meet The House Parents
Frequently Asked Questions About Orphan Care
The adoption process takes between 6 and 18 months from start to finish. In many other countries applicants can wait 2 to 5 years before their adoption is approved. If your answer is that you want to adopt a white baby, there are considerable hurdles: The number of white babies up for adoption is very limited; in this case the time frame will be longer.
You can apply for a national adoption if you are a South African citizen in South Africa.
If you are a foreigner living in South Africa you can only apply for a national adoption if you have been in South Africa for a period of five years. You will need to submit proof of residence and your work permit in order to qualify for a national adoption. You will need to approach a registered adoption agency or an accredited adoption social worker. The agency or social worker will screen you and help you look for a child who is available for adoption. In South Africa, the only way in which you can legally adopt a child is by working through an accredited adoption agency, or with the assistance of an adoption social worker functioning within the statutory accredited adoption system If you are a foreigner and want to adopt a child from South Africa you will need to find out of your country is a party to the Hague Convention. If your country has signed the Hague Convention you can approach the Central Authority in the country where you live, they should refer you to an accredited child protection organisation who has an agreement with an agency in South Africa. They will then be able to screen you and assist you with an intercountry adoption. Should your country not be a part of the Hague Convention you can adopt through the competent authority or the international Social Services (ISS) in the country where you live.
You will need a Police Clearance certificate and a Form 30 – you apply for your form 30 at the Department of Social development. You will need other documents like copy of your ID, proof of residence and proof of income.
Adoptions can cost as little as a few thousand rand although the adoption can cost between R12 000 and R15 000 (not including the cost of the medical, police clearance and psychological examination which are usually extras).
The Act says that not more than six children may be placed in foster care with a single person or two persons sharing a common household, except where the children are siblings or if the Court considers this to be in the best interests of the children.
The Children’s Act states clearly that a child is in need of care and protection if, the child:
has been abandoned or orphaned and is without any visible means of support
lives or works on the streets or begs for a living
has been abused or lives in circumstances that expose the child to abuse
lives in or is exposed to circumstances which may seriously harm that child’s physical, mental or social well-being
is in a state of physical or mental neglect
is being harmed, abused, deliberately neglected or degraded by a parent, a care-giver, a person who has - parental responsibilities and rights or a family member of the child or by a person under whose control the child is
is a victim of child labour
is in a child-headed household
A child has been abandoned if the parent, guardian or caregiver has deserted the child or if the child has, for no apparent reason, had no contact with the parent, guardian, or caregiver for at least three months.
You can go to the Children’s Court with matters relating to the following:
• the protection and well-being of a child • the care of, or contact with a child • paternity of a child • support of a child • the provision of early childhood development services • maltreatment, abuse, neglect, degradation or exploitation of a child, except criminal prosecutions in this regard • the temporary safe care of a child • alternative care of a child • the adoption of a child, including an inter-country adoption • any other matter relating to the care, protection or wellbeing of a child provided for in the Children’s Act.
A child in foster care may not leave South Africa without the written approval of the Provincial Head of Social Development. This approval must be obtained in writing prior to departure from the country.
Every Magistrate's Court in South Africa is a Children's Court. This means that there are almost 737 children's courts in the country. Contact details for all the magistrates' (lower) courts can be obtained from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development's website.
Yes, you may approach the Court. The Act says that anyone acting in the interests of the child may approach the Court.
A social worker or a police official may remove a child from their home and place the child in temporary safe care without a court order if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the child is in need of care and protection and needs immediate emergency protection. This may only be done when the delay in getting a court may influence the child’s safety and well-being. The official has a responsibility to make sure that the removal of the child from his/her home is the best way to secure the child’s safety.
Foster care is the temporary placement of a child who is in need of care and protection. One of the essential components of the South African alternative care system is foster care. Research indicates that the number of orphans in South Africa range between 3.7 million and 5.2 million. A Foster Care Order is an order that the Children’s Court can grant when it has establish that a child is in need of care and protection. The Foster Care Order is usually valid for 24 months.
The child is placed in the care of a foster parent who is not the parent or guardian of the child. The foster order can be renewed or extended after 24 months for another 24 month or longer. The court can use its discretion and order the foster order to be valid for 18 years. The court can also decide to not renew the foster order and reunite the child with a parent of family member, should this be in the best interest of the Child.
No, a person may not be disqualified from adopting a child by virtue of their financial status. They just need to be able to care for the child.