You are the potter I am the clay
The Potters Haven in Daggafontein started 10 years ago and currently serves as a place of safety for eight abused and abandoned children.
According to founder Marlene Minnie it has been a place of safety for eight years but two years ago, when the new Children’s Act came into affect, they had to choose between a place of safety and a foster home.
“It was easy to make this decision, as every child grows on you. We also believe where there is no hope, God provides hope,” says Marlene.
The place of safety is registered as a non-profitable organisation (NPO) and is BEE approved as a foster cluster.
Marlene adds it is not an orphanage, but a normal household where broken children can feel secure and have a normal life in normal surroundings.
“These children did not have what other people take for granted, such as having a bath,” says Pastor Andrew Minnie, Marlene’s husband.
The home provides support interventions that aim to build the capacities of children’s rights.
“We are responsible for providing love, care, and support to these children, we try to make the suffering of these children less, and most important we are their parents,” says Marlene.
She adds they work hand in hand with the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad (CMR), which always provides holiday programmes and the Haven’s children attend all of these.
Each child’s case is brought to court every two years where it is decided whether the children’s parents can have them back or whether they need to continue their stay at the haven.
“It is quite a stressful period as we love these children with all our hearts, although we want what is best for them,” states Marlene.
Although the home depends on donations from the public, the children are being treated as the Minnie’s children.
The home’s aim
It is essential that the children must be protected from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Marlene says the children should play an active role in decisions affecting their own lives in preparation for responsible adulthood.
The Minnie’s give support, love and care to children at all times and treat them as human beings. The children have to interact with each other through playing as it forms the basis for many physical and social skills.
The children have the right not to be discriminated against, but to be treated equally.
“It is essential to provide counselling to the children to address the psychosocial needs of children,” says Past Andrew.
He adds the children need to be assisted and therefore they developed memory boxes and books, in order for them to remember their cultural roots.
Marlene adds one of the main objectives is to find sponsors for the children in need of special care and medical attention.
“This is also why we need our community and businesses to know about the home,” concludes Marlene.
For more information, contact Marlene on 071 569 8094.
