Oasis haven makes a difference for 21 years and counting
The children's home is reluctant to ask the community to help because they do not wish to abuse the incredible support they receive far above their needs, every time.
Not many people know about it but nestled in Robin Hills is a small children’s home making a big difference in the lives of youngsters.
Well, there are two children’s homes if you want to be technically correct – Oasis Haven has a home for 10 boys in Bou Avenue and a home for 10 girls in Winston Avenue.
These cater to youngsters from three months of age until they finish high school, and provide food and lodging, education, medication, therapy and emotional support.
There are also outings and experiences that restaurants, venues and groups provide to the children.
The homes even have their own extensive playgrounds, libraries and board games rooms.
There is tight security, with CCTV footage from several cameras.
“It all costs R10 000 to R15 000 per month for each child, depending on their needs,” explained fundraising manager Qondani Tshuma.
“We are only just managing financially and could always use more help. The problem is the community is so supportive that when we post on Facebook that we need money for petrol, we end up with enough to last a year. So we are reluctant to ask too often, so to abuse the incredible support we receive.”
Tshuma especially thanked New Creation Family Church and their congregation, who formed the home in 2002 and have been supporting it greatly since.
“We like to interact with our donors. They receive updates about the children and letters of thanks from them. Often they write letters of thanks to us at the home but we tell them no, they must write these for the donors – we are just the facilitators of their kindness,” Tshuma added.
“Some of the youngsters have to be homeschooled for a while but the goal is to get them to a place where they can move to formal schooling because of the social aspect. The children are based at a few different schools that meet their needs because our ultimate goal is to prepare them for life and we do not put a cost limit on that.”
The children come from many different backgrounds – being abandoned by their parents, abused or taken away for a variety of reasons. Many still have ongoing court cases.
“We are very thankful for the sessions provided by local therapists, some of whom charge nothing or only a quarter of their usual rates.”
In total, the two homes have 16 staff. These include eight house mothers (two are available at each house at any given time), two social workers, a driver, a handyman and gardener, an office manager, a fundraising manager, a managing director, and an accounts manager.
The homes provide Section 18A Certificates for cash donations.
Details: Oasis Haven info@oasishaven.org; 011 678 8057.
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