the cradle - house of restoration
MAKING A DIFFERENCE....
The
great plight of vulnerable women and children has become very apparent
to The Cradle of Hope. These young girls and women tend to all
have more or
less the same background. Most of them were abused or molested as
children, having had no comfort or protection. This resulted in many
of them making the wrong choices very early in life, mainly to escape a
cruel father or stepfather, or sometimes an unloving mother. Many
have given birth to their first baby at the early age of 14, 15 or 17.
They have become prisoners of these circumstances ...........!
After speaking to some of these mothers and young girls and doing a substantial amount of research, we realised that there is a huge shortage of places where these young girls and mothers can go to, where they can regain their human dignity and worthiness, a place where they can be comforted, receive counselling and therapy and where they can be taught how to care for and support themselves and their children again, so that after a year or so they can return to their rightful place in society, together with their children. There are many institutions and havens that shelter children, but very few that also include the mothers. We firmly believe in the preservation of the "family unit."
This inspired us to get working on filling this gap. In June 2009, THE CRADLE OF HOPE therefore put all their faith in God and purchased an enormous house in Krugersdorp-West which was developed into a House of Restoration for these girls, women and children. We trust that, with The Lord's help, we will be able to pay for this house. We are equipped to house up to 30 mothers and children at a time.
At our house there is always a waiting list of women and children desperate to find sanctuary and support. Places such as our HOUSE OF RESTORATION are desperately needed, in a society where violence is part of so many people's lives. We also have many other day-visitors who attend our upliftment programmes and day-to-day activities. To provide the level of care, support and counselling given at our HOUSE OF RESTORATION, rather than merely board and lodging, amounts to around R80 000-00 per month.
Our aim is not to offer accommodation only for a few weeks - we want and need to encourage and empower our residens and their children so that when they leave this house they will be better equipped for their roles in society and they will be able to cope. We do not receive any funding from Social Services or the Government, and we are entirely dependant on the goodwill and donations from individuals and Corporate funders, as well as our own fundraising events and projects, to enable us to keep the doors of this house OPEN.
Many of the ladies and children arrive at our HOUSE OF RESTORATION with only the clothes that they are wearing, and we have a great need for ladies and children's clothing, underwear and toiletries.
Should you wish to view this house or should you wish to become involved, please contact Melodie van Brakel on (011) 660-4623, or e-mail her at melodie@thecradleofhope.org, in order to make the necessary arrangements. We thank you in anticipation for your assistance.
we
have several projects to generate funds and to teach the women skills.
rusks, homemade biscuits, crunchies etc. can be ordered from us.
the jewellery project is another project that enables the women to earn an income. if you are interested in hosting a jewellery party please contact michelle on (011) 660-4623.
NEEDS ANALYSIS
* We provide three balanced meals a day which is particularly important to malnourished women and children. Food donations are always welcomed, i.e. non-perishable food (sugar, cereals, canned foods, freezable foods, coffee, tea, etc.), bread, milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat (remains a luxury), baby formula (NAN and LACTOGEN and NIDO), nappies, baby products, female hygiene products, cleaning aids, shampoo, soap, toilet paper, black refuse bags, toothpaste, etc.
* Basic medical
requirements such as Dettol, plasters, antiseptic creams,
mercurochrome, gauze, pain medication for adults and children and
babies, cough syrup, vitamins, etc.
* We
desperately desperately need transport!! We are
struggling to transport the mothers and the children to schools,
after-school activities, church, doctors, clinics, hospitals, shops etc.
* The sponsoring of the services of an armed reaction unit for security
reasons (R300-00 per month), for our HOUSE OF RESTORATION.
Many of the ex-husbands and estranged fathers are violent and our
safety and those of the residents are extremely important and always a
concern.
* Our electricity account for the HOUSE OF RESTORATION at the Town
Council is approx. R3 000-00 per month and we desperately need a
sponsor for this.
* We
require assistance with the purchasing of gas for our gas stove, and
would appreciate any sponsorship regarding our gas requirements.
* Childrens books, Christian books, magazines, Bibles, story books etc.
* Educational toys, or any other toys, stationery and art supplies (crayons, paint etc.).
* Arranging outings for our mothers and children, to educational and recreational facilities.
* We always require clothing for women and children, as well as for babies.
* A large freezer in which meat and other perishables can be stored.
* Any financial assistance would be greatly appreciated.
(Assistance with paying the monthly running costs of the house, i.e.
water & lights, insurances, salaries, petrol, internet
subscription, photocopy machine, printer ink, etc.). We
are fully registered with SARS as a Public Benefit Organisation
(930-027-742), in terms of the Section 18/A Income Tax Act.
Should your require a Tax Certificate, please fax your deposit slip to
086 528 9917, including your contact details.
* All contributions to THE CRADLE OF HOPE should earn you a 100% towards your company's SED element on it's BBBEE scorecard.
* Any committed volunteers willing to share their time, talents,
expertise and hearts with us, eg. art classes, sewing and knitting
classes, cooking classes, computer literacy classes, etc.
* Ladies to become involved with our own fundraising events, eg. ladies
breakfast mornings, ticket sales, golf days, hosting of jewellery
parties and selling the jewellery that our ladies make and the rusks
and cookies that they bake, assisting with market days, street
collections, open days, theatre nights, music festivals, auctions,
fashion shows, collecting of other people's junk for our
charity shop sales, helping at market stalls, etc. If your
have the time or the expertise, please become involved. Contact
Ronel Black on (011) 660-4623 (during office hours) to become part of
our team of fundraisers and volunteers.
We need YOUR HELP!
Please help us to help these less-fortunate and abused mothers and children.
THANK YOU FOR CARING!!!
"you tube" video
Life 24/7 aired a video of the House of Restoration on SABC 2. Should you be interested in viewing this video which is available on "You Tube", please click on this link.
In the business we are in, we understand that everyone has
their own journey and that we can’t save everyone. The women that come to us are taught right
from the start that there is a wonderful fearless life waiting for them if, and only if,
they are willing to do the work. On a very cold winters morning in July THE CRADLE OF HOPE – HOUSE OF
RESTORATION held its first Graduation Ceremony.
We firmly believe that anybody can change, put their past behind them and
move forward in life knowing that your past shapes your future. Believing that the road you have travelled is
part of your destiny. A destiny that you
can choose. A future that can be good,
should you choose to work very hard at self acceptence and to make choices for
your own good. Choices like letting go
of your past and bad experiences you might have had. Forgiving, taking responsibility for yourself
and your children. Standing on your own
feet, able to fend for yourself. When
the beautiful women we help has reached the point where they can face the
outside world on their own again, they graduate. We are so proud of them! THE CRADLE OF HOPE – CHANGING LIVES. Contact Justine (076-232-4500) for life
coaching or other enquiries. See our life couching page for more info.
GRADUATION CEREMONY 29TH JULY 2011
Banking Details - Main account and
The Cradle - House of Restoration :
| LOCAL : | INTERNATIONAL : |
| Bank : First National Bank, Krugersdorp |
Bank : First National Bank, Krugersdorp |
| Branch Code : 250241 | Branch Code : 250241 |
| Acc. No. : 6218 035 2628 | Swift Code : FIRNZAJJ |
| Acc. Name : The Cradle of Hope | Acc. No. : 6218 035 2628 |
Please fax the deposit slip with your details to +27 865-289-914. Should you require a Tax Certificate please note this on the deposit slip.
