Johannesburg is a large urban metropolis not unlike many large North America cities. There is traffic congestion with lots of buses and taxis fighting for space on the roadways and pedestrians who bob and weave their way across busy city streets. According to statistics, the metropolitan population is greater than seven million.
Founded roughly 120 years ago by an Australian gold prospector and today it is the financial and cultural center of the country. However, with big diverse cities, come big diverse problems, and that’s where the Salvation Army does its best work.
The Ethembeni Children’s Home, is located in a high crime area of Johannesburg, just east of the downtown core. Established in 1993 in response to the baby HIV/AIDS crisis, today the home handles mostly abandoned babies. The ministry is immediately impactful and it tugs at my heart strings as we tour the home.
The babies are brilliantly cared for and loved. Most are adopted by age three to international adoptive parents. Only two babies out of 61 currently in residence are HIV positive however the sad reality is that many mother’s continue to abandon their babies for a myriad of reasons.
We continue on our journey visiting two other children’s homes; The Salvation Army Carl Sithole Children’s Center, a facility that cares for 90 abused and or abandoned children ages 2-19 as well as the TSA Strathyre’s Girl’s Home, a residence that provides care for 60 girls between the ages of 3-18 in the suburb of Kensington.
Meeting the children and listening to their stories is heartbreaking. I’m hopeful that by SAVN.TV highlighting these ministries, TSA will be able to help even more kids escape the grim reality of abuse, neglect, poverty and life on the streets.
The Officers and staff of all the homes we visited today have difficult but important jobs. They all have one significant characteristic in common, and that is, they all have hearts of compassion.
Nelson Mandela once said, ‘there can be no keener revelation of a nation’s soul, than the way in which it treats its children.’ Interesting words to think about at the end of a very powerful day.
Major John Murray, Communications and Literary Secretary
Day 15 – Salvation Army Children’s Homes in South Africa
Hi guys if you can’t earn any money online try – bluehand roulette system – it earns me
extra money everyday, just google it
Am willing to help those beautiful children and am here by applying job as a nurse.I’ve got 1year ancillary health care certificates and 5 years experience in nursing.I am committed, highly spirited and enthusiastic person, always striving to achieve excellence in everything that i set to do. I am a very flexible person who is always willing to learn and to work very hard.