Thandi House is a non-profit foster home that was established in 2009 by Mark and Rene Morcom. Located in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Thandi House is built on the philosophy that every child deserves a loving and nurturing for-ever family and environment. Thandi House is a home of healing, love and acceptance.
We take a holistic approach to care, healthy minds and healthy bodies. Many of our children came to us on the brink of death from being socially and medically neglected, malnourished, immune-compromised, and ill from not receiving life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment. This has impacted their long-term well-being. We try to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet to support their growth and development at each meal.
Many children in our home have come to us being let down and neglected by our broken state healthcare system. Some children have faced near death that could have been prevented if the right medical care was given to them by our state run hospitals. Facing the reality of this broken system we now are forced to provide the children with the option of medical aid / insurance allowing us to use private medical care.
“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela.
Education is the key towards ending the cycle of poverty and brokenness which our children came from. Our children are encouraged to reach their full potential and are given full support throughout their schooling career. Extra support and care is provided to our special needs children as part of the schooling process.
Funds towards fuel plays an essential role in the smooth functioning of our home. It enables us to carry out a wide range of activities that are crucial to providing the best possible care for the children in our care. Travel funds also allow us to collect donations as food, clothing, and other essential items that we need to care for our children. Additionally, travel funds are essential for us to visit courts, doctors, and therapy sessions as well as special treats like homeschool outings and Sunday hikes in the local park.
While volunteers play a huge role in our work, our core staff ("aunties") support us as parents in the upbringing of our children. Our support staff play a vital role and are full-time employed, which means we have a monthly payroll to meet, and it is essential that we have funds to cover this expense. Our aunties have been with us for 13+ years and are truly part of the family. Our aunties work tirelessly to ensure that the children's physical, emotional, and educational needs are met, and they do so with a deep sense of compassion and dedication.
We feel incredibly blessed to be able to rent a large property, surrounded by nature . that provides a safe and nurturing environment for the children in our care. Having a large property means that we can offer plenty of space for the children to play, learn, and grow. It also allows us to accommodate a larger number of children, which means that we can provide a forever family to even more children who need it. Rent includes water and electricity which is also vital to our home functioning.
We rely on the generous support of our community to ensure that we can provide the best possible care for our children. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to support us is by helping with our needs list.
Each donation can make a significant impact at Thandi House. The overall expense are substantial, and we rely on your support and kindness to help us cover the monthly expenses to keep our home open.
Our structured volunteering program has been developed with the safety and well-being of our children in mind. We conduct thorough background checks on all of our volunteers and provide clear guidelines.
Do you want to help us raise awareness and funds for our home? Then consider starting a campaign to support Thandi House! With your help, we can continue to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our children.