Mothers afforded chance to give ‘unwanted’ babies better life

Mothers who feel that they have no means to raise their newborn babies due to various circumstances have an opportunity to give them a better life.

Door of Hope was established in July 1999 as a non-profit organisation that takes in unwanted and abandoned babies.

Nadene Grabham, operations director at the centre, said they have baby houses in Berea at 17 Doris Street and another one at 48 Hillbrow Street that mothers can leave their ‘unwanted’ babies in.

Since opening, the organisation has taken in close to 1 700 babies from various parts of Johannesburg, and now they are reaching out to residents of Johannesburg north-east to use their services.

“We care for our babies until they are placed for adoption, foster care or reunited with biological families. We are seeing more and more stories in the newspapers and social media of abandoned babies being found dead or alive, thus we’re reaching out to various communities to utilise our services instead,” said Grabham.

Grabham said their very first baby is now 22 years old, adding that she can speak various languages and will soon graduate in classical and jazz music. The now-grown-up woman has been back twice to Door of Hope to volunteer and spend time with their babies.

The operations director said they work with Hillbrow and Yeoville police stations as well as Hillbrow Clinic to ensure that the babies get proper services.

“We have a baby box installed in the wall of the Berea Baptist Church, where desperate moms can place their unwanted babies instead of abandoning them somewhere to die,” she concluded.

Details: Nadene@doorofhope.co.za

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