Behind every child welcomed through the doors of Hotel Hope is a team of people quietly doing the work that helps turn a place of care into a place that feels like home.

For Augustine Emmanuel Mwakayoka, working at Hotel Hope has meant stepping into almost every corner of the organisation, from its children’s homes and administration to its charity shops.

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Some of his most important work, however, is rarely seen. He changes nappies, helps keep the charity shops running, manages social media and photographs the children every week, documenting their development from their first days at Hotel Hope until they are adopted or reunited with their families.

He also makes time to cheer on three children who play club football at the University of Johannesburg and visits one of the children’s homes for evenings of storytelling, pizza and conversations about their day.

“It’s so beautiful to see how much compassion goes into it, how much love, how much sweat and tears are involved in it,” Mwakayoka said of the Hotel Hope team.

The organisation’s CEO and founder, Oliver Quambusch, said the 16 staff members working in the children’s homes carry a responsibility that extends far beyond the practicalities of childcare.

He describes the caregivers, affectionately known as ‘aunties’, as angels walking the earth. “They are not just doing a job, feeding a child, or changing nappies – they are creating and forming the next generation of South Africans,” he said.

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The work is demanding, with long hours and children who need attention around the clock.

Yet the emotional investment can be just as significant as the physical demands. Mwakayoka has learnt that caring for children requires patience and changes how adulthood relates to childhood. He has learnt that children develop at their own pace and that adults cannot expect them to behave like miniature versions of themselves.

For Quambusch, ensuring staff feel valued is therefore essential.

“If a team member does not feel part of the family, does not feel appreciated, can you imagine what they would do to the children who are helpless?”

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That sense of belonging can flow directly to the children. For Mwakayoka, one of his most meaningful moments comes when a child eagerly recounts every detail of her day, knowing someone is interested enough to listen. Sometimes, he says, the smallest acts create the biggest moments.

A photograph. A changed nappy. A clean room. A story before bedtime. Showing up to watch a football match. Each may seem insignificant on its own, but together they help create something every child deserves: the feeling that they matter.

Quambusch hopes the wider community recognises the people doing this work for what it is – a commitment to raising children who may otherwise have had nobody.

“These are ladies and gentlemen who are dedicating their lives to raising the next generation of South Africans.”

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