Couple warms hearts at their precious home

DRIVEN by his passion to provide shelter, nourishment and a happy environment for those in his care, 35-year-old Russell Chili is certainly a jack of all trades. Nestled in the heart of Inanda in the Valley of a 1 000 Hills is a non-profit organisation known as the White House.

The father of three lived alone in a humble home built with his own hands until he married his wife, Precious. Orphaned as a small boy, he one day imagined what his life would be like if he did not have the assistance of a woman who lovingly opened her home to him when he was a small boy. It was for this reason that he decided to do the same for other children.

Chili, together with his wife Precious, wake up at 4am to prepare water for bathing, breakfast for the residents and lunch for the children. He said, “My background and my wife inspired me to start this project. We have 35 residents staying with us. Twelve children have disabilities. Four can’t see and they can’t talk or walk. We also have orphans and elderly men and women in our care.

“The residents are brought in by social workers and community care givers and we also receive calls from people who require assistance. It costs more than R30 000 a month to meet the needs of those living at the home and we have nine people who assist us from day to day.

“Currently we have eight rooms, but we have commenced with renovations to make more space to accommodate more people and the blocks that are being used in the building process are made by us.”

Russell and Precious have taken in disabled children, mostly suffering from cerebral palsy. Often they come from homes without parents or with aged or impoverished family members unable to take on the endless task of caring for them. Elderly bedridden residents are also taken in, and Chili built a whole new section on his land to accommodate them, separate from the younger children. He receives erratic financial assistance from Lionsraw, GAGA (Goodwill And Growth for Africa UK) and from community members and churches.

They also have a wishlist of items which they need to be donated to the home and are requesting that people volunteer their services for installations and other upgrades.

For more information on the home or to assist, contact Russell Chili on 076 625 2461 or 061 491 3118. You can also make a donation into the following account: New Church Westville, Standard Bank Kingsmead, account number 050 484 885. Use ‘White House’ as a reference and proof of payment must be e-mailed to Adele Walters on stompie3@gmail.com.