Owami Silcock was just six weeks old when she and her twin brother arrived at Fairhavens Babies’ Home in Durban North, then run by the Church of the Good Shepherd and now known as Anthem Church.

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They were the first children placed in the home. Owing to medical complications, the twins were later transferred to a government orphanage, but their connection to Fairhavens did not end there.

Members of the church congregation, Ted and Cecilia Silcock, fostered the twins and later adopted them. As a child attending Sunday school next door to the babies’ home, Owami remained aware of the care provided to children awaiting reunification with their biological families or adoption. She also celebrated her fifth birthday at the home.

As she grew older, Owami faced learning challenges and moved from mainstream schooling to Livingstone Primary School, a short-term remedial school in Morningside. She later returned to speak to learners transitioning back into mainstream education. After attending a Durban North high school, she completed her schooling through homeschooling.

“When I consider the two decades of my life, I realise that I have been very blessed in a beautiful journey. From a very uncertain start at my birth, through Fairhavens to a loving adoptive family, dealing with health and educational struggles, and now having had my career path opened to me, there have always been supportive people to cheer me on,” she said.

Initially considering a career in social work, Owami instead enrolled at Vega to study brand strategy. Midway through her first year, she and her parents were invited to a meeting with The Domino Foundation, which by then had taken over the operation of Fairhavens Babies’ Home.

Owami has since completed her final examinations at Vega. She said her studies, including a recent brand activation project for the Sibusiswe Africa Initiative, highlighted the importance of family and community support in shaping young lives.

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