A nest for little angels
Abandonment, neglect, malnutrition and exposure to HIV/Aids are some of the conditions in which babies find themselves.
Formerly known as Swallows Nest, The Almond Tree, a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Northmead provides a safe haven for babies who have gone through these experiences.
Volunteering in the Barcelona community, in Daveyton, Charmaine McQueen had first hand exposure to people affected by poverty and HIV/Aids in a poverty-stricken area.
The experience led her into a whole new world that, she believes, was part of the path she had to take in order to fulfil her purpose.
“There was a woman who literally walked up to me and handed me her children and said: ‘Take them, I can’t afford to take care of them’,” said McQueen.
She was driven by the word that she received from God about receiving a baby who was left for dead, who that she would have to nurture back to health.
Coming to the realisation that more than one child needed their help, Charmaine and her husband, Kent McQueen, sought help from Rene Testa, founder of BarnSwalows Home of the Abandoned, in Weltevreden Park, in Roodepoort.
The McQueens then opened the then Swallows Nest in June 2014, to start working with abandoned and abused babies in Benoni and the East Rand.
Working closely with the social department they have welcomed many babies into their home to rehabilitate and care for them.
The shelter currently takes care of 14 babies between the ages of zero to 18 months, with three permanent caregivers who look after the babies.
The babies stay at the shelter for 90 days or six months, depending on each case.
Some of the babies have been adopted, although The Almond Tree is not an adoption agency.
Together with the social welfare department they help to provide the potential adoptive parents with the information they need to go through the adoption process.
McQueen’s love for children drives her to go up against many odds in order to protect and put the babies needs first, so much so that she is strict about volunteers because of the trauma the babies have experienced.
Having four of her own children, McQueen said: ”We raise the babies in our own family dynamic and the kids love the babies, they are like brothers and sisters.”
Faced with the challenge of certain essentials McQueen welcomes any donations of Infacare baby formula one and two, wet wipes and nappies from newborn to size four.
For more information, contact Charmaine McQueen on 011 849 2227 or email charmainemcqueen@live.com
