Refuge home commemorates 101 years
A home that offers a sanctuary for elderly people, the disabled, and chronically ill people in need is celebrating more than a century of giving back.
THE Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) will be commemorating 101 years since it opened its doors on May 1, 2022.
The ABH is one of South Africa’s largest and oldest Non-Profit Organisations. The Home cares for the elderly, frail, children, and victims of domestic violence.
In 1918, DG Satyadeva witnessed a police officer assaulting a homeless old man for taking shelter overnight in a public toilet in Durban.
Deeply distressed by this incident and inspired by the teachings of the Arya Samaj, whose ninth principle states that everyone must see his own welfare in the welfare of others, Satyadeva and his colleagues, Nayanah Rajh and SL Singh resolved to provide a home for the city’s neediest.
Three years later, the first home, a small wood and iron house in Cato Manor opened its doors to three homeless people, and soon became a refuge for elderly, disabled, and chronically ill people in need.
In 1933, a larger and more permanent structure was built in Chatsworth to serve the growing needs of the organisation.
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Today, the ABH’s flagship campus stands tall atop 80 Arena Park Drive in Chatsworth.
The organisation has come a long way since its humble beginnings and is today a national organisation with five facilities in Durban, two in Gauteng, and old age facilities in Glencoe and Umzinto.
According to Naren Pattundeen, CEO of the ABH, noteworthy developments have taken place at the Home recently, this includes, the creation of the ABH Learning Centre which educates and empowers future health care professionals and a new Children’s Home is currently being built at the ABH’s headquarters.
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“All upgrades are made possible through donor funding,” said Pattundeen. “We are extremely thankful to everyone that has supported our Home. Our milestone of reaching 101 years is greatly due to our donors and supporters as they strongly believe in being humanitarians and helping those in need. We work together to care for and serve South Africa’s most vulnerable people. We appeal to corporates and individuals to assist us once again as we currently have a R250 000 monthly deficit. Your much-needed kindness enables us to keep our doors open. Thank you very much for being our pillar of support,” said Pattundeen.
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