Don and Rachel Sayers
Emmanuel International Canada — 20 Risi Rd, Fish Hoek, Cape Town, 7974, South Africa
African Hope Trust was formed in 2009 to care for the abandoned, abused and orphaned children of South Africa. The model AHT uses is the concept of Foster Safe Houses. The homes are built to provide long-term foster care for children referred to AHT from the Department of Social Services. Each home is led by a full-time and devoted house mother that raises and cares for 6 children in each home 24 hours a day, every day.
The mothers view their work with the children as a calling rather than a ‘job’. It is through this devotion that we are able to create a genuine home environment where the children begin to view the foster-mum as ‘mum’ and the other children as siblings.
Each home has a maximum of 6 children who remain in the house indefinitely or until extended family members can be found. However, even when extended family is found, they are not willing or able to care for the child that has been left behind or removed from an abusive home environment.
The benefit of this smaller more familial model is that it creates a greater sense of belonging, increased sense of family dynamic, better oversight and more natural nurturing. The cost per child is higher than the more familiar institutional approach, where dozens of children are raised in large facilities that are staffed by multiple employees and carers. The Foster home model provides a higher level of care and a more intimate sense of belonging and family.