Established about 8 years ago, Lighthouse Baby Shelter has exceeded the goals it envisaged for itself and yet it still hopes to achieve more.
The owner of the shelter, Eleanor Dustan shared the shelter’s achievements and hopes.
Lighthouse Baby Shelter is a non-profit, non-governmental shelter that was opened in 2008. It is run by Dustan, who said that it has always been a lifelong mission of hers to be involved with orphanages. “I was commissioned by God to do what I do,” said Dustan. She went on to explain that it was not easy to get the shelter to where it is now but every challenge was worth it.
The shelter aims to give every child it caters to the most normal upbringing it can give. Dustan explained that there are approximately 5 million orphans in South Africa and too little homes to cater to them. “There needs to be more homes, because as it is, there are not enough homes and there are too many children in need of them,” explained Dustan.
The shelter currently has 20 children in residence and about 124 children have gone through the shelter. Dustan shared that since 2009 the shelter placed what it calls a Moses Basket in their garden wall. Babies can be placed in the basket anonymously. To date eight babies have been found in the basket.
Dustan said she hopes that people become more aware of those in need around them. She expressed that children are not taken into consideration as much as they ought to be. She recalled how once a child was found abandoned in a graveyard and was brought to the shelter. “The child was brought in and was shown love. Now this child is adopted and is growing into a beautiful little girl,” said Dustan.
Details: Lighthouse Baby Shelter, eleanor@homefinsa.co.za or 011 795 4207.
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