History

Assist - Change In Action was born on the 9th October 2009, after Pietermaritzburg headlines were flooded with stories of dead babies found at the city dump, fields, and rubbish bins. An abandoned house was taken over. At only 24 years old, Rene Morcom started her first project called PIETERMARITZBURG PREGNANCY ASSIST aimed at helping women faced with unplanned pregnancy. Some of the services included counselling, childbirth education and doula support/birth companionship, as many clients were young and frightened and needed support during the birth. There are an average of 700 girls and woman seeking support or counselling per year. It was in 2010, when a local newspaper bravely published a story of a dead abandoned baby with a full picture of his lifeless body, did the organisation later install KZN’s first BABY SAFE aimed at offering an alternative to infacide. The baby safe is located at St Paul's Anglican Church. By December there were six new born babies at the home as well as a teenage mother. 
Near the end of 2010, a baby girl was placed into the care of the couple, found in a sealed black plastic bag, left to die on the curb, yet was saved by a bypasser. This little girl changed the path and hearts of the couple, setting a path to where they are today. It was love at first sight and a heart tug in what would follow. She was the hope for those to come after surviving her ordeal. The place of safety/foster home was later named after this special baby. It was here that the couple registered an NPO to help raise funds to extend their impact.

Mark Morcom resigned from his secure full time job in 2012 to follow the dream and Rene Morcom changed her degree from a BSC with the aim of a medical degree to a Social work degree to better serve the organisation.

Many more children and teenage mothers followed and in August 2012 the organization started Hope House, a one year pilot project. After the 12 month period, and all clients had left the home for a better life, the organisation decided to close down the home and reopen at a vicinity closer to the the baby home. Sadly despite many applications to lease the vacant property near the baby home after many years the application was denied and the home where Hope House was meant to be was vandalized and the structure destroyed.

In 2014 the home was again revamped to what the home looks like today. Finally, the old abandoned house was perfect for its needs.

Children came and went but many remained as this home was their only family. 
2016 was a great year, the kids went to many picnics at Midmar and got to see and touch “snow” for the first time in the midlands (it was more like ice than actual snow).

In 2017 a huge tent and camping equipment was purchased and the whole family went on their very first holiday / camping trip. Many special memories were made and this since has become a yearly tradition for all the children. 
2017 was as a miracle year after being stranded many times with an old broken car, the home was blessed with a new seven seater by extraordinary company called TTP. A donation that has and will forever change how things are done.

2018/2019 was filled with so many new friendships and sponsors. The first few children that came into the home are now turning ten! And are well rounded amazing children. The teen program NEW BEGINNINGS has seen teachers, nurses, office managers, fashion designers, civil engineers and our current teens are doing teaching and social work. The home is filled with amazing children, who are very loved, very wanted and get to experience a real family. 
However ten years down the line, from starting with nothing more than one borrowed cot and a few baby clothes, to where the home is today. There is only you to thank and praise for keeping our doors open. And today, ten year later, we say thank you, thank you, thank you.

But there is also change to come. We are expanding the area of the services offered to help many more people with broken hearts.

We only celebrate our birthday because of you - THANK YOU