Blessed Gérard's Child and Youth Care Centre

In our Children's Home we give a home to "orphans and vulnerable children". Among them are abandoned, neglected, abused, HIV-positive and sick, handicapped and orphaned children, who would hardly have a good future without our help.

In our Children's Home they find a new home, love, security and medical treatment.

The children we take care of in Blessed Gérard's Children's Home are lovingly cared for. They were not used to this before they came to us. Because of the AIDS pandemic, there are also more and more AIDS orphans with us.

Just as a house is built of bricks, our children's home sees itself first and foremost as a community that is built with loving care and provides security. 

How an embarrassing solution became a great institution

1. Blessed Gérard's Children's Home was already started on May 15, 2000, by assigning a part of the building of Blessed Gérard's Nursing, Social and Hospice Center to the then new project and employing two caregivers full time.
In these temporary premises we could only accommodate ten children and we were soon full.
We wanted to help more of these desperate children.
So we had to build a bigger building to give them a home.
 
2. Blessed Gérard's Children's Home was officially opened by the Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta on July 9, 2000.
 
3. First wing
In 2002, we constructed a new building for Blessed Gérard's Children's Home, which was officially opened by the Grand Commander of the Order of Malta on December 15, 2002.
 
4. Extensions 1 and 2
In 2007 and 2008, the children's home was significantly expanded and inaugurated on June 22, 2008 by the new Bishop of Eshowe Xolelo Kumalo.
 
5. Extension 3
In 2012 and 2013, the children's home was again expanded by extending a wing of the building previously used as a hall and building a playing field (football field) next to the Care Center.
The inauguration by Bishop Xolelo Kumalo of Eshowe took place on October 12, 2013.

Reports from the children's home

Like the Christ Child (30.12.2020)

Es war wie das Kind Chirst, das Schutz suchte, als die Polizei am 30. Dezember 2020 zu uns kam und das neun Monate alte Mädchen in unserem Kinderheim unterbrachte. Wir freuen uns, dass wir ihr die…

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Giving presents (24.12.2020)

Giving presents in our children's home on 24 December 2020

One of the bigger girls in the children's home was asked to write a short note about what she likes or dislikes about living in a children's…

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Education camp (14. - 16.12.2020)

From 14 to 16 December 2020, sixteen of the younger children from our children's home attended an educational camp at Pennington Resort on the KZN South Coast near Scottburgh.

The aim of the camp was…

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Welcome (19.11.2020)

Our children's home welcomed this seven-year-old girl on 19 November 2020.

We are ready to take care of her and offer her a safe and healing home.

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Welcome (5.11.2020)

Our children's home welcomed three new arrivals on 5 November 2020. We are ready to take care of you and offer them a safe home.

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Welcome (27.8.2020)

Our children's home welcomed three new arrivals on 5 November 2020. We are ready to take care of you and offer them a safe home.

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Welcome (1.7.2020)

One of the most fulfilling tasks for all our staff and volunteers is to help when help is needed most.

Giving an abandoned newborn a loving and good start in life is one such task.

The Youth Ministry…

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Welcome (13.2.2019)

It is our great pleasure to introduce you to our two youngest children from the children's home: The twin girls were born in December 2018 and have been with us at the children's home since 13…

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Clare Kalkwarf about our children's home

Scene from our video film "An Imperishable Brotherhood":

This is Themba. Themba came to us when she was three months old. She was abused by her mother and the social workers took her away from her…

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Irene - Christmas 2005

It is July and the night is cold in the African winter. Baby Irene's parents are celebrating some unknown and unimportant occasion. They have been drinking heavily again. Irene's mother is heavily…

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"Where is my mummy?" - Christmas 2005

Oh, it's so exciting! Soon I will see what there is to discover outside my mummy's womb. But I'm also a wee bit scared because I overheard my mummy talking to a friend recently and saying "I don't…

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S'fundo - Christmas 2005

On 3 September 2005, an eight-month-old baby was found near the public water tap in the local slum. Young girls from the community who had come to fetch water find him. They picked him up and…

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Report - Christmas 2004

Blessed Gérard's children's home has grown enormously in the past year. It currently provides a loving home for 28 children. Mrs Sandy Porter is our new director. We are very happy that we could win…

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How the impure leper ... - Christmas 2004

The story of Thandi and her son Bhekithemba should give you an impression of the terrible situation of many people in our area and show you how we help people in a meaningful and effective way:

Thandi…

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Hello, I am Sibusiso (Christmas 2003)

This picture was taken on the day I was born, 18 March 2003. Some men were playing football on a sports field outside Sundumbili. They kicked the ball across the pitch and Jakob Ncube, one of the…

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A True Christmas Story - 2003

On 21 December 2003, a little boy, maybe three days old, was brought to us after being found as an abandoned child. He is obviously premature and very weak, dehydrated, malnourished and has mouth…

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Mkhonto's story (Christmas 1999)

Mkhonto - There is hope!

The corridors of our care and hospice centre echo with the laughter and squeals of a little boy of about three years old. This was absolutely not the case five months ago when…

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