kayelitsha is one of over 20 townships in cape town and has almost 1.5 million inhabitants. the hiv/aids prevalence is suspected to be as high as 40% and the unemployment rate may be as high as 65%. the number of orphans is estimated to be 14'000.
the history of baphumelele children's home began in 1989 when rosie mashale opened a crèche in kayelitsha together with a group of local women. after the first week they were already caring for 36 children. this crèche becam later the day school educare centre where the mostly malnourished children were not only taught, but where they also received a free breakfast and lunch and find a safe haven, at least during the day. today, approximately 230 children join the classes of the baphumelele educare centre every day.
when the hiv/aids pandemic hit in 2001, rosie founded the baphumelele children's home, a haven for abandoned, orphaned, abused, forgotten and sick children of kayelitsha. within weeks, more than 60 children found refuge in the home and today, the place is home for 70 to 100 children. most children placed at baphumelele arrive in very poor physical condition and some of them suffer from tuberculosis and serious skin infections. some children are hiv-positive and all of them have heartbreaking life stories.
since 2005 baphumelele has been officially recognised as orphanage and receives financial support from the south african government. this enables the home to employ a full-time social worker and to pay small salaries to the 20 caregivers from the community who run the orphanage with the help of volunteers. all further cost are paid with the help of donations. the money is used for food, clothes, diapers and medical care of the children. the number of children in kayelitsha who need help also increases daily. baphumelele is therefore planning to raise its capacity in the next coming years to 150 children.

we hope that we can contribute to this with your help!
please find further information about baphumelele children's home on www.baphumelele.org.za