Grace’s amazing journey

EIKENHOF – Love, resilience and passion are some of the characteristics that best describe Grace Mashaba (65), founder, director and mother of Amazing Grace Children’s Home in Eikenhof, 32 years later.

She opens up for the COURIER/CHRONICLE/RECORD about her trials and tribulations in life. Born in Barberton in Mpumalanga, Grace was an orphan at the age of four. She was then adopted into a white farm family. That’s when at the age of 10, her ‘father’ raped and impregnated her. “He took me to the family doctor where abortion and sterilization happened without my knowledge, I only found out when I was 28 years old about that fateful day,” she explained.

Streets were the only option for Grace after her ordeal with her ‘family’. “I was on the streets and that’s where I saw lots of abandoned street children. I felt the need to help them,” she said.

Streets were the only option for Grace after her ordeal with her ‘family’. “I was on the streets and that’s where I saw lots of abandoned street children. I felt the need to help them,” she said.

Grace started with seven boys and she never looked back. With the help of Mrs Nell (station commander at that time), in Malelane Railway, she got a place where she would operate. The place was then flooded with younger children as well, those who could go to school were given that opportunity. “I remember the then government did not help us in terms of funding, I had to work hard to sustain the place. I sold my house and three cars. However, I am proud most of the children who I took care of, are now men and women who are married and have careers,” noted Grace.

In 2004, Plot 7 in Eikenhof was donated to Grace by the New Apostolic Church (NAC), a family who adopted two of the children she was minding. Getting new premises came with its challenges. Funding was, and still remains, a critical issue for the centre. “National Lottery helped us to buy a car and there are other sponsors and donors like Rose Child, Bruno, Pick n Pay Mulbarton, Scintilla, churches, also NAC our main sponsor and individuals who help us regularly. With this type of help we need to have our finances in order and that is why our books are audited. Anyone who wants to help or look at our books is welcome. There’s a misconception that we sometimes misuse the funds and I want to go on record, that we are transparent here, we do things according to the book,” elaborated Grace.

She reiterated that she is with Amazing Grace Children Home’s because of love. “Not everything is about money as most people would like to think. Sometimes people came here for that (money) and as soon as they realise there’s no money they leave. We do have overseas volunteers from time to time and not always do they come with money. We welcome people who genuinely want to help. People need to come and have a look at the centre and talk about something they know, something they have experience with,” outlined Grace.

She has amazing stories to tell about how she found abandoned, orphaned, abused, raped and neglected children.

“I would like to also invite the Malelane community and business people to come and be one of the board members so that they know what is happening in the Malelane, because it’s not about Grace but it’s about the future citizens of South Africa. So we need your support, please come and see for yourself! Because we only have international volunteers not locally, we need local volunteers to take part in the lives of the children also I would like to invite the municipality as well, both Gauteng and Mpumalanga,” she pleaded.

Amazing Grace Children’s Home has about 68 children with five caregivers and four other general workers who are there 24/7. In Malelane they have 54 children and a soup kitchen in Barberton.

Mom Grace can be contacted on 082 380 2676 or amazinggrace@iburst.co.za