Background of Ubuntu House

The Ubuntu House is part of the greater uMephi Project and is a place of safety for newborn babies.

These babies have been given up by their mothers, saved from abortions or are sometimes just thrown away. By law the house is only allowed to look after 12 babies at a time. Since their opening in September 2003, they have already cared for 221 babies, placed 213 with adopted parents, and reunited a few with their birth mothers.
 
Their aim is to have these babies adopted before the age of three months.

The umbrella organisation, the uMephi Project, has 18 such baby halfway houses under its wing. It also has 20 satellite houses, where older children have a home and a loving family to nurture and equip them for life. uMephi also has a number of hospices, where the sick and dying are cared for.

Running a home of this nature for 12 babies, costs R21 600 a month. Ways in which they can be assisted includes volunteering at the baby house or donating products such as milk formula and nappies.

How Team Dunrobin got involved

During September the rector of Dunrobin, District Evangelist André Bell, expressed the wish that the congregation get involved in reaching out to this worthy cause. The leaders were informed of the plan and gave their approval. The initial response by young and old was overwhelming and gathered momentum within days.

The objective of getting involved was basically threefold, to:

1. Give the privileged members a glimpse into the lives of those babies who were initially rejected by their parents, but given a second chance in life.
2. Visibly express thanks to the Lord for the loving and caring parents in the congregations.
3. Extend the Thanksgiving joy into the community, by making a physical donation to the Ubuntu house.

With the preparations for Thanksgiving well underway, members were invited to assist with the preparations of the altar and for fellowship on Saturday 3 October 2009. As they entered the foyer, they placed donations in the boxes provided. The goods donated for the home varied from gripe water to disposable nappies, baby medication, bottles, pacifiers, and even a fax machine and printer for the effective running of the office. One local pharmacist donated baby goods to the value of R700 to one of the retired ministers. Many other donors from the community also became involved. With the presence of Apostle M Diedricks as well as Bishop S Smith at the fellowship, Dunrobin was set for a truly blessed Thanksgiving.

On Sunday 4 October, after the festive divine service, the team proceeded to Ubuntu House situated in Goodwood. The official handover was done by District Evangelist Bell. This was preceded by the joyful voices of the makeshift choir, which visibly touched the hearts of the house parents, Naas and Miems Vermaak. They also stood in awe when they took delivery of the goods that the congregation had gathered for them and expressed their utmost thanks to all who contributed.

After the handover was completed the members were invited to take a tour of the house. Seeing the appreciation and thanks in the eyes of the house parents and their staff surely made the project worthwhile and brought the congregation closer together. The tiny babies were hugged and cuddled, whilst the old curtains were removed and the new handmade curtains were hung.  Each baby also received a new duvet and a Winnie the Pooh night lamp.

The whole outreach campaign can be summarised in the text: “For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ,  and for your liberal sharing with them and all men” (2 Corinthians 9:12-13).