No place like House Mouton
LINDEN – A three-decade-old children's home in Linden has asked for support.
A children’s home in Linden has been helping disadvantaged youth for almost 30 years.
House Mouton, or Huis Mouton as some know it, was bequeathed to Abraham Kriel Bambanani in the early 90s by the Mouton couple who owned it and spent their lives in it.
In 1994, after a flat to accommodate house parents was added, the house was opened for the first group of 10 children. It was the beginning of a new era and was the first satellite home of Abraham Kriel Bambanani, a non-profit organization.
Since then, six more satellites were established. Three of these are in the Randburg area, three on the East Rand and one has temporarily moved from Mayfair West to a vacant house at Langlaagte.
House Mouton provides a refuge for 10 boys of varying ages. All these boys benefit from a caring community and the variety of schools in the surrounding area. Some of the most valued contributions that members of the community provide are access to therapy and medical care.
The local congregation of the Linden Reformed Church has taken on the children’s spiritual care and they have found a happy home there.
Rembrandt Butchery has been providing all the children’s meat since the home first opened its doors.
According to the home’s ‘huis mamma’, Amanda Viljoen, and marketing manager, Hilda du Toit, this is indicative of the extraordinary love, acceptance, and generosity that the boys have experienced from the community.
“The greatest advantage to children in need of alternative care is the opportunity to grow up in circumstances that are as close as possible to a normal family home. For the most part, House Mouton has succeeded in giving numerous children exactly that,” said Du Toit.
“The upshot is that the home has delivered many tertiary students that now live a productive and happily independent life. One such student is currently studying to become a teacher and another qualified himself in the video production environment.”
Needs at the home
- People willing to provide extra maths and science coaching as well as language coaching. Whoever offers to do this should understand children and know how to work with them. It can be challenging.
- Regular repair work to maintain the house.
- The children need therapy, shoes, and clothing. Boy’s clothes don’t last, unfortunately.
- Curtains for the boys’ rooms, a lawnmower, and outings to broaden the children’s experience of the world.
Details: Abraham Kriel Bambanani info@abrahamkriel.org; 011 839 3058/60.
