Our hearts are full – July what a month!

Mandela Day 2025 – we were richly blessed! Thank you

Mandela Day happened during the July school holidays this year which was wonderful for us at Kids Haven. The Centre and Village were buzzing with activity from Thursday 17th already and our children, teens and young adults were showered with love, food and wise words. Volunteers streamed in to paint our walls, share meals, play games, sort out our warehouse, cook and clean, and bringing beautiful things for our children. Over 2000 Meals-in-a-bag were packed some of which go to our home-based garden growers supplementing their diet with a protein-rich meal. Everywhere we looked we saw wonderful smiles and very happy children.

There were also amazing collection drives taking place outside of Kids Haven and donations streamed in to both our Bryanston and Benoni centres. And it didn’t stop when Friday 18th ended. Throughout the weekend and following week we continued to receive donations including fresh vegetables and a whole load of toilet paper and toiletries. We could hardly see the reception table for all the stacks of loo roll! While we would love to mention everyone who blessed Kids Haven over this Mandela Day time we simply can’t because the list is too long. What a blessing! We say a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to you all. We appreciate you and your generosity. You have truly touched the hearts of our children, young people, and our staff and your acts of service and giving will continue to be appreciated during the year ahead.

Exploring new Pathways

It was an exciting day on 24 July when 50 company representatives and 25 nervous, but enthusiastic, young people on the Pathway Program met to share career talk and lunch at Kids Haven. The event provided guests with a first-hand look at the Pathway Program – a holistic initiative that supports young people as they transition from care or under-resourced households into further education, training, or employment. It also highlighted just how powerful partnerships can be when driven by purpose. Ilka Stein, Manager: Youth and Skills Development at Kids Haven, says the current group of young people were amazing – from set-up to arranging the event they all arrived on time, worked together as a team and engaged with the guests. “They really had to step out of their comfort zones to speak to the company representatives, to reach out and engage. We are so proud of them and it is already paying off,” she says.

Following the event, three of the young people have been accepted for a learnership starting in September with the Tyre, Equipment, Parts Association (TEPA). Another company has asked to see all the young peoples’ CVs and a local electrical and construction company has asked four young people to come in for interviews and would like to train two of them. The cherry on top was that the event was catered for by three inspiring young entrepreneurs, Itumeleng Gama, Wendy Mahlangu and Nomvula Nhlapo, who were part of Kids Haven youth programme three years ago. With support from ACSA, the trio participated in an intensive entrepreneurial training programme that enabled them to start their own food businesses. “One of our current young people on the programme even stepped up to help with the catering. The food was amazing,” adds Ilka.

“We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all the companies who attended and the many who wrote on our commitment wall. One opportunity, one connection, and one future can spark a ripple effect of meaningful change. We are excited about the future for these young people,” says Ilka. If you can assist in any way with offering these young people work experience, a learnership, a day in your office or factory, or you would like more information on the Pathway Program please contact Ilka on youth@kidshaven.co.za. 

Thank you, Skyside, for helping us with Grade 1 applications

Doing Grade 1 applications on the Gauteng-On-Line system can be daunting for parents and caregivers so we called on volunteers for help and Cheryl Katzen and her team from Skyside kindly put up their hands. Thank you so much for helping us with this process and making it easier for us to ensure our little ones are placed in schools for Grade 1. We appreciate you!
There are always so many ways to help. If you have a skill you could share or a willing heart, please get in touch and we can find a way to get you involved. Email hello@kidshaven.co.za.  

Laughing for a great cause

On 31 July we enjoyed a good laugh with many Kids Haven supporters who filled the Theatre on the Square for Nic Rabinowitz’s hilarious show, Geriatric Millennials. Guests generously bought raffle tickets and won prizes from local restaurants, hampers and more. All proceeds from the event are going to educating our children and we are so grateful for another successful event. A warm thank you to everyone who braved the chilly winter evening to be there – we hope you enjoyed the laughs! See you at the next theatre event.  

Update your Woolies card to support us

To all our wonderful Woolies MySchool loyalty supporters, MySchool cards are no longer scanned at Woolies stores. Please could you update your Woolies loyalty programme to include Kids Haven as your cause. Here’s how you do it…
* Open the Woolworths app
* Click on Loyalty on the bottom of the screen
* Select Causes
* Search for Kids Haven
* Tap to confirm your selection
Now when you scan your Woolies card when shopping you will be supporting Kids Haven.
Thank you for your help. Every rand collected ensures we can care for, educate and protect our precious children.

Special birthdays in July

Two of our board members, our Chair, Stanley, and Deputy-Chair, Jane, as well as Sam, our CEO, celebrated their special days in July. Stanley and Jane in fact share a birthday on the 14th!

Stanley is a retired dad and grandfather. He worked in the marketing space before retirement. Stanley regularly meets with our Kids Haven boys, encouraging and mentoring them. Happy Birthday to the leader of our board.

Jane is very involved in all things behind the scenes of Kids Haven bringing her engineering and entrepreneurial skills to the organisation. She is involved in HR and various other sub-committees. We wish Jane a beautiful year ahead.

Sam (or Uncle Sam as he is affectionately known) celebrated his birthday on 28 July. One of our young people, Annah, wrote a beautiful birthday poem which sums up who is.   

For the man whose moments change lives, whose love builds futures.
From the quiet morning steps of Kids Haven’s halls,
Where dreams were once dust and laughter would stall,
Rose a man with a mission, steadfast and true,
Wearing love like a mantle, not just a suit.
They call him CEO, a guardian of goals,
But to those who’ve wandered in with fractured souls,
He’s more than a title, more than his role—
He’s a healer of hearts, a restorer of whole.
Uncle Sam, you lead not with noise or pride,
But with the calm of mountains, strong inside.
A two-minute talk—a whisper, a glance—
Has the power to give a life a second chance.
You saw through our shields, through the silence and pain,
Through stories of loss, through dreams down the drain,
Yet instead of pity, you extended a hand—
A father who understands, who helps us stand.
Strict when it’s needed, soft when it counts,
You measure love in quiet amounts.
No grand gestures, no staged embrace,
Just honesty, kindness, and grace.
For many of us, love was myth, not truth,
Not held in our childhood, not nurtured in youth.
But you cracked open that locked-up door,
Let warmth rush in like never before.
You never demanded we earn your care,
It was just there—in the way you stare
With eyes that see potential, not scars,
That show us we’re valued, that we’ll go far.
Through you, Kids Haven became more than a place—
It’s a story of healing wrapped in your grace.
A home forged from patience, from difficult days,
From your vision of kindness that always stays.
To the father of nations, the man of his word,
Your quiet wisdom speaks louder than heard.
In your stride is dignity, in your voice is peace,
In your legacy, broken spirits find release.
So on this day of your birth, we sing not just praise—
We celebrate the light you bring to our days.
May joy flood your steps, may love fill your way,
May you feel what we feel—every single day.
You are cherished, adored, deeply respected,
The love you give can’t be measured or detected—
It’s felt in the silence, in growth, in our fight,
In each child who now walks toward the light.
Your impact is eternal.
Your love? Unforgettable. “
Happy born day daddy
May this day bring you joy , peace and lot of laughter , you are not just a CEO but my dad – Annah .
Thank you, Annah. You share our hearts in this poem. Happy birthday, Sam.