IT TAKES a village to raise a child, caring people to nurture it, dedication and patience to help it grow. That is why abandoned babies need you.
Little Feet Baby Home is an interim home of love for abandoned babies and appeals to the public for sponsorship.
Jerome and Selvana Naicker are registered Crisis Care parents who have opened their home to assist abandoned babies and are currently taking care of four babies – two girls and two boys, aged between six weeks and six months old.
“It is unfortunate, but abandonment is a reality. Every day babies are abandoned. Our role is to love these little ones until social workers place the children with their adoptive parents,” said the loving parents.
Of the 18.5-million children in South Africa today, 4.5 million of them live with only one of their parents. “Orphans have increased by 30 per cent over the decade to approximately 5.2-million children,” they added. The Naickers welcomed their first baby on Monday, 23 March and say that it takes a lot to raise a child; however, they are up to the task and welcome all the help they can get.
“The younger they are, the more attention, affection and time they need. We have a host of challenges – our utilities bills have doubled in the last few months. It is difficult to find trained staff who have a real heart for the babies. We are in need of volunteers who could come in and help love these little ones,” said Jerome.
The couple added that their faith in Christ helps them get through the challenges: “It sounds crazy, but the babies calm you down, and just playing with them is therapeutic,” he said.
Tragedy brought the couple to where they are today. In October 2003, Jerome’s father was shot and killed in front of him in an armed robbery, and the two young men, aged 19 and 22 years old, also shot him five times. “They were caught and ended up in prison. I remember how scared the guy who shot me was. He was trembling. A few years later, when I recovered and had forgiven these boys, I realised that if these boys got some guidance this may have never happened so we began helping children,” he said.
And ever since, they have never looked back. The National Adoption Coalition says that in a few years, it will have over two million adoptable children in the system and all these precious little ones will need permanent homes and forever families. “We believe that as we unite with our talents and resources, we will become a conduit to help many families hear the pitter-patter of little feet in their homes,” the couple said.
The babies need to be bathed, fed and loved. The Naickers are appealing to the community for items such as level one baby formula, disposable nappies, baby clothes and medication. Should you wish to make a donation to Little Feet Baby Home, contact Selvana or Jerome on 031 464 0899 or call 082 566 9486.
