Reea Foundation reflects on being a place of refuge and stability since 1935

Tucked away in Craighall Park, the Reea Foundation has been a place of refuge and stability since 1935 for adults living with epilepsy and mild neurological conditions.

Nearly nine decades on, it remains a community where care is constant, routines are familiar, and every resident is known by name.

Today, the foundation provides a residential home for 39 residents in its hostel on York Avenue, Craighall Park. The space feels less like an institution and more like a shared home, shaped by the people who live and work there.

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For many residents, Reea is not just accommodation. It is safety, structure, and belonging.

A place where daily life matters

Life at Reea is built around routine, care and meaningful activity. Alongside 24-hour professional support, residents are encouraged to participate in daily programmes that help maintain independence and self-worth.

These include horticulture projects, crafts, recycling, document shredding, and upcycling work.

While simple on the surface, these activities offer structure, purpose, and a sense of contribution, something staff say makes a real difference in residents’ well-being.

The hostel environment is designed to be homely and calm, where residents can feel secure and supported while still being active participants in their daily lives.

A history of change, growth and continuity

Over the decades, the foundation has evolved significantly. What once operated across multiple sites, including facilities in Parkhurst and Marlborough Avenue, has gradually been consolidated into the current hostel in Craighall Park.

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This transition brought residents and services together under one roof, creating a more connected and coordinated care environment for the 39 people who now live there.

Despite the changes over time, the heart of Reea has remained consistent: providing dignity, care and stability for some of society’s most vulnerable adults.

The people who make Reea feel like home

Reea is a foundation that is held together by its people, many of whom have dedicated decades of their lives to the organisation.

• Senior nursing sister Joy Muhle has been part of the organisation since 1991. She has cared for generations of residents, moving through different sections of Reea as it has grown and changed.
• Social worker Elinor Demetrio has spent more than 30 years at Reea. Over that time, she has helped develop meaningful work opportunities for residents, from recycling and packaging to craft and skills-based projects.
• Senior nursing sister Niki Sibanda has served for nearly two decades, working across medical care, counselling and support. Her role often extends beyond healthcare, into emotional support and day-to-day problem-solving for residents and families.
• Chief cook and housekeeper Sarah Radebe has been part of the organisation for 35 years.
• General manager Alex Sheffield has overseen operations for 18 years, acting as the link between residents, staff, volunteers, board members and donors.
• Handyman Ephraim Makgae, with 21 years of service, quietly ensures that the buildings and grounds remain functional and safe, often working behind the scenes but playing a vital role in daily life.

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