#WomenWhoChangetheWorld: Sylvie a mother to the nation

Desouiller has found the real mystery of motherhood and to her being a mother doesn’t mean being related to someone by blood, but it is a matter of the heart.

She is living her best life as she gives hope, shelter, food, clothing and a chance for a brighter future to unfortunate children.

She co-founded Noah’s Ark, a children’s home in the outskirts of Tzaneen with her husband Rémi in 2013.

The home takes in kids from the age of 0 to 18 years who are without families, neglected, parents in jail, abandoned or generally from broken homes.

The couple arrived in South Africa in 1990 and started their lives in Cape Town where they had a surfing shop in Strand.

Her desire to serve others especially giving hope and building a home for the unfortunate was deeper and eventually led for her to leave the mother city to answer God’s call for her life.

“After accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and saviour, my husband and I were convinced that we were supposed to start a children’s home.

“I always thought that there was a better way for homeless people to live than to stay in the streets without food, shelter and clothing.

“We then packed everything we had and sold our surfing shop and came to this area to do what we are convinced is the will of God,” explained Desouiller.

The couple are originally from France and are blessed with four kids of which three are biological and one is adopted.

First year public relations student, Dzunisani (19), who is the first child out of Noah’s Ark to enrol at a university, says that the home has given her a second chance at life.

“Noah’s Ark has made a positive impact in my life and I’m really grateful for the care and love I received and still receiving in this place.

“Although we may sometimes feel as if our families have neglected us, but here we are given a chance to learn and grow.

“Maybe back at home we would not have had the opportunities we are granted in this place,” she explained.

The property is divided into different kinds of sections including the babies house, pre-school, boys house and the main house which serves as the girls house, kitchen and a living area.

A social worker is availble from Monday to Friday and a nurse who monitors the health of the kids comes three times a week in the home.

Desouiller says despite the different kinds of challenges they are facing including financial hiccups, she would not forsake being a mother to all her kids for a thing.

“Seeing the kids becoming godly young men and women and developing into wonderful human beings with a promising future is what we strive for.

“God has given us a vision to take care of their lives in the best possible way we know how and we will stop at nothing to do that,” she concluded.