They come to us abused, thin, injured, hungry and traumatised

For a woman who believes in herself, no obstacle is greater than her determination, and no past is more powerful than her future.

Little girls, big girls and women. They have experienced things no human should ever experience. And they come to us – for help, for protection, for kindness and arms wide open to hold them and comfort them.

Lydia is 18 years old. She was raped by her mother’s boyfriend before arriving at Kids Haven four years ago. She lost confidence and hope. She tracked down her mother on Facebook. Her mother promised to come get her but never arrived and disappeared again shortly after. She is now part of the Kids Haven family. She has achieved, her self-confidence is growing. She knows Kids Haven is here for her – we aren’t going anywhere. Consistent care has made all the difference in her life.

Sonto’s mother was in and out of relationships with men. The men refused to take any responsibility for the children. A stepfather repeatedly tried to rape her but she fought back. He would then give her R5 not to tell her mother. When she was 15, her mother and stepfather told her it was time to get married and they had a man who wanted a wife. Money was exchanged. “That day was the worst day of my life,” she says. Sonto is now a single parent herself and part of our Positive Parenting Workshop. She wrote her story as part of her healing journey.

Refi knows what it’s like to be a bully. She manipulated and bullied children around her. At four she arrived at Kids Haven and started at our pre-school. The teachers struggled with behaviour issues but always believed in her and invested time in her. This behaviour continued as she entered primary school and in her Kids Haven home she wouldn’t listen to instructions, would coach new children that arrived at the home to be disobedient and was often involved in conflicts with other children. But still the caregivers and teachers kept believing in her, caring for her, loving her and being consistent always. Now at 16 she is a beautiful young women who uses her leadership skills for good, both at home, at school and in the greater community, speaking out against bullying at Children’s forums. She now knows when to walk away when provoked by another child and is growing every day.

More than one in five women in South Africa have experienced physical violence. One in three adolescents will endure some kind of sexual abuse in their lifetime mostly from people they know such as partners or family members. We daily encounter these girls and women. We hear their stories. We see their tears. We need to keep helping them. Only through donations can we keep going.

Become a monthly donor now and make an impact on our girls and women empowerment programmes; schooling and community care initiatives. 

For a woman who believes in herself, no obstacle is greater than her determination, and no past is more powerful than her future.