Zakiya McKenzie
zakiyam@caxton.co.za
JUST off Melville's popular Seventh Avenue, Hotel Hope Ministries is a home full of playing, laughing babies.
The 22 staff members and volunteers are dedicated to assisting babies in need, young mothers facing unplanned pregnancies and those seeking training in carpentry.
In 2008 founder Oliver Quambusch sold his business in England to start the endeavour here.
As a private child agency it currently houses 18 small children with the aim of giving them a stable environment while equipping their biological parents with the
means to take care of them or if necessary finding suitable adoptive parents.
Quambusch explained the significance of the name. “We wanted to find a name that signified a transition and a hotel is a nice place where people like to go. We offer the children hope every day and 'ministries' is to reflect our Christian roots.”
Of 1 600 teenage pregnancies that its Mothers in Crisis programme has been involved with, none of the mothers have permanently given up their babies after Hotel Hope Ministries' intervention.
“We are really embedded in the community. We run these two homes as family homes, the children go to school in the area and we also have the Hope and Resurrection Charity Shops here in Melville. I was eager to start social enterprises so that we generate enough income to pay wages and create employment,” said Quambusch. They also have a
small carpentry workshop for unemployed men who want to learn the skill.
With a decree of 'temporary interventions – eternal results', Hotel Hope Ministries is dedicated to giving disadvantaged children and families the best chance possible. “We really want them to have that feeling of family and the very special one-on-one attention that children always need.”
Help Hotel Hope Ministries by volunteering your time or by giving in-kind donations of nappies (any size), baby formula, a clothes dryer, long-life milk, canned food or a satellite navigation system/GPS. Donations can be made to FNB, Melville Branch 256505, Account Number 62194003382.
Details: Hotel Hope Ministries 011-484-4000.
