Give Abandoned Children in South Africa a Safe Start in Life
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Hi, I’m Karen, and I’m asking for your kind support to help my daughter B continue her life-changing work caring for abandoned children in South Africa.
✨The Reality on the Ground
Growing up in South Africa, I witnessed heartbreaking poverty - children begging at traffic lights, hungry and unprotected. My daughter grew up seeing the same, and from a young age, she said: “One day, I’ll do something to make a difference.”
Sadly, for many children, this is still the norm.
- 3,500+ babies are abandoned in South Africa every year
- 7 in 10 young children live below the poverty line
- 3 in 10 suffer from malnutrition
- 1 in 25 dies before reaching the age of 5
(Source links below)
Too many babies are left in hospitals, police stations, and even on the streets- without family, without support, without a future.
✨ What B Is Doing About It
In May 2024, B became a safety parent in the Western Cape - one of a small group of people willing to provide emergency parenting to babies and children abandoned or removed from unsafe home situations.
It started when, with just 48 hours' notice, she took in two little girls:
- A 1-month-old and a 9-month-old, both waiting weeks in the hospital for someone to say “yes”
- The older child was non-verbal, withdrawn, unable to cry -showing signs of severe neglect
- Both were born drug-exposed, struggling physically and emotionally
- Today, thanks to B’s love and care, they are safe, stable, happy and thriving
✨ The Challenge
B is now caring for:
- a baby, toddler, 7 year-old, 9 year-old (medium-term)
- an 11 year-old (short-term)
With no government funding, she must cover:
- Food, formula milk, nappies, clothing, toiletries
- Medical care expenses
- School supplies, electricity, water, transport, basic toys
…all on a shoestring, with help from a few generous friends and family which is getting harder.
She’s reached the legal capacity of her current rented home and is regularly asked to take more children - but simply doesn’t have the space or resources.
✨What We Need Now
We’re raising funds to meet immediate and essential needs:
- ️Cot bed with mattress + bunk bed with mattresses
- Medical costs
- School uniform and supplies
- Reserve fund for utilities, transport and essential living costs
- Future goal: hiring paid help
- Future goal: help toward larger rental housing
Plans are underway to set up a registered charity to fund a safe house. In the meantime, these funds will provide for essential urgent items and serve as reserve funds until the charity is in place.
✨ How You Can Help
Your donation - no matter the size - goes directly toward:
- Giving abandoned children a warm, safe place to feel loved and cared for
- Allowing B to focus upon supporting and caring for the children
- Supporting B’s long-term vision of a larger, purpose-renovated safe house
The journey so far is a testament to God's grace. We believe it's time to invite others to share in the blessing of caring for these children in need. (James 1:27)
We’ll share updates along the way so you can see exactly how your support is making a difference.
For safety and legal reasons, my daughter’s name is not given in full and the faces are blurred in photos.
Gofundme asks for an additional donation towards their costs however this this can be reduced even to 0%.
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Please help us create a future filled with love, dignity, and opportunity for these precious lives.
Donate. Share. Be part of this change.
With heartfelt thanks,
Karen and B ❤️
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Sources:
Child abandonment in South Africa – LAW FOR ALL
The Conversation: South Africa is failing its youngest children
Organizer
Karen Deutsch
Organizer
England