Isiaiah home a sanctuary for children
"Working with children is not a job, it's a calling," said founder of Isiaiah 54 Children's Sanctuary, Glynnis Dauth.
FOR THIRTY-TWO years Isiaiah 54 Children’s Sanctuary has been a place of safety for abused, abandoned and HIV infected babies and children. The house on the Bluff has been home to hundreds of children, some who would not have made it had it not been for the home.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Btij_T2FfDh/
“Living here is like having the biggest family you could ever have. It’s the most rewarding thing. It doesn’t matter who you are, you’re a somebody,” Glynnis Dauth, founder of the home, warmly said.
Dedicating half of her life to the service of children in desperate need of love and shelter is no child’s play because children need constant guidance and attention. Ever wondered what it’s like to be a mom at a place of safety? “There are no typical days,” she explained. “Working with children is not a job, it’s a calling. And working with people in need, like what Youandi (Jo) is doing with Open Arms, is a passion. You can’t just say ‘Oh, I’d like to do that because I’m going to make money out of it, there is no money. Jo and I do not get a salary. It basically has to come from an absolute passion for what you want to do.”
And what’s a day in the life of Glynnis and Jo like? “The day starts at around about 6.30am or 7am, the aunties come in and prepare breakfast and get clothing ready for the kids to dress. The teenagers and the ones going to school will get themselves ready and make sure they’ve got lunch.”
By 8am all the toddlers and babies get bathed, dressed and fed. “That’s the whole process that comes in the morning, so it’s quite a busy time. At 10am the kids have a snack and then go and play. They are outside until midday.”
At noon the children take a nap until about 1.30pm where they have their lunch and juice and then it’s off to play some more. “At 6pm we all eat together so that everybody is eating at the same time and then nappy changing, brushing teeth and it’s bed at 7pm. At bedtime, Jo and I take over from there for the night shift.”
Isaiah 54 Children’s Sanctuary also houses Open Arms, a project for desperate mothers and fathers to place their baby in a safe as an alternative to abandonment, to ensure that the baby is taken care of. Placed at the Makeweni Stop in Malborough Park, the baby safe is a means for a parent to ‘post’ their baby into a safe space instead of putting the baby into a bin, toilet or plastic bag.
READ ALSO: Bluff hosts ‘baby safe’ solution for unwanted babies
“We’ve moved the baby safe from the park because it was getting really dangerous there. Security patrols and taxis all park there and it’s not conducive for a mother to put a baby in the box. It’s also very dangerous for us at night and so we’re moving it to our premises. And it’s not a very busy road at night, if there is a possibility of someone coming pass, they are not likely to be seen.”
The box was initially placed at the park for the convenience of making a drop off without being stranded for transport. “It’s not that far from the taxi rank. But we have to look at safety all around, I would hate it if a mommy put a baby in and then got attacked, I would be devastated because then you would know that somebody has been watching her and not wanting her to do what she’s done. And we need to have such places for moms,” said Glynnis.
The baby safe has been moved from the park and will be put up at the home soon. A builder and bricks for the wall have been secured, however, cement for building and plastering the wall is still required. If you would like to make a donation to the home, visit www.isiaiah54.org, call 062-013-7955, WhatsApp 084 488 1359 or e-mail isiaiah54@hotmail.com.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Busn3Lol8Zn/
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
