Couple climbs two mountains – Mount Everest and opening new baby home

Abandoned and alone, baby Hope was recently taken to her new home, the Hopelands Village in Magaliesburg.

After struggling to get registered for two and a half years, this baby home finally opened its doors and welcomed its first baby.

Founders Stephen and Sharon Lamprecht designed the home because they hope to one day create numerous villages where they can care for children of all ages and be self-sufficient. For the time being, they will be able to accept 12 children aged newborn to three years old. The youngsters will be cared for by three certified child youth care workers.

At the moment they are opening their home to rescued babies but the aim is to be a permanent home for toddlers too.

That is however not the only highlight for the couple, they almost made it to the summit of Mount Everest to plant their Hopelands flag recently.

The couple returned from climbing Mount Everest in May. Although they did not go to the summit they did make the gruelling 140km climb to the base camp. This climb was originally planned for 2021 but they could not go. With the help of sponsors, they were able to climb this year and trained at the Sable Lodge in Magaliesburg for this exhausting journey.

“Up there you see the magnificence of God’s creation, we were in awe all the time,” Stephen explained.

While walking up the mountain, they met many people and made many new friends. One of which is an award-winning songwriter and singer from India, who wrote a song for Hopelands Village.

“The memory of this achievement can never be wiped out of our minds,” they said.

The newest addition to their family, baby Hope is not even six months old. After they were officially registered they received a call out of the blue to ask if they had room for a baby. They immediately started getting ready to take the baby in.

Stephen said that funding remains a challenge not only for them but for all homes like theirs. The recommended amount to look after a child per month is R10 000 and when filled to capacity their expenses per month quickly go from R200 000 to R250 000.

They are now focusing on future development, decorating their home, and funding.

Their wish list consists of:

• A washing line for the side of the house
• Yellow paint for a wall and someone who can paint it
• Decorating the rooms
• Decorating the aunty’s corner
• Paint for the top cupboard of the aunty’s corner
• Building a wall in the shower and hanging a door
• Ceiling for one of the rooms
• Putting up hooks for towels for the children
• Solar power
• Playground
• Electrician services
• Baby bath with stand
• Two single mattresses
• Bath mats
• CD player
• Flasks
• Nappies
• Formula
• Towels
• First aid kit
• Gas geyser
• Two single beds
• Security lights

Their ambassador, Jenny-Lee Swanepoel said they have relied on the goodness of people to come this far and she will be arranging an event for later this year to see if they can get more donations and maybe a mainline sponsor.

For more details on Hopelands Village and how to help, contact Jenny-Lee on 074 487 3803.