In South Africa, 14%* of children are orphaned or left vulnerable and over 10,000** babies are abandoned each year.
“Fairhavens” the Domino Babies’ Home was birthed in 2004 and is a transition home providing a safe environment for abandoned/orphaned new-borns to 3 year-old children, each one having been placed there by local Child Welfare Organisations.
*(Ref.: “Orphaning”, Katharine Hall, September 2022, UCT)
**(Ref.: Baby Savers South Africa, 08 November 2022).
Articles about the Babies' Home on our blog
A Journey to Family
Tiny Tots Relocate
We’re Seeking Shelter
Fatima is Setting the rafters a-ringing
Raising the Roof
Overhead Expenses
What Does God Say We Should Do?
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:27)
Sustainable Development Goals
National Development Plan
This plan envisions a South Africa where everyone feels free yet bounded to others; where everyone embraces their full potential, a country where opportunity is determined not by birth, but by ability, education and hard work.
Founded to serve and protect society's most vulnerable.
What are we doing to reduce vulnerability?
The babies and children receive 24/7 care of their physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual needs by a team of caregivers who are skilled and gifted to nurture them.
There is an overarching pressing need:
- to care for vulnerable pregnant mothers who at high risk of abandoning their babies
- to meaningfully engage with male and female youth to reduce the high number of teenage pregnancies
- to create better support structures to eradicate the impact of poverty, GBV and inequality
- to empower extended family household support structures
- to get civil society to work with government to ensure places of safety and family-restoration processes are streamlined, better resourced and effective.
Reflection
The Babies Home saw a significant decline in re-unifications or adoptions, which resulted in longer term care of vulnerable toddlers and young children. As a result, the need for regular professional child therapy was identified, in order to minimise the impact of re-bonding trauma of children who have stayed in the home past the age of 2 years. The Justice Team put pressure on local authorities to accelerate permanent family placements/adoptions of these older children.
On the development side, this meant these children could attend a local pre-school which was excellent for their early childhood education socialisation, fun and friendships.
On the operational front, the home received a brand-new fuel-efficient vehicle for safe travel and logistics, and the house received lots of community love and DIY maintenance, however a roof renovation is needed in 2024 for the health and safety of all babies, children and caregivers.