CELEBRATING HEROES AND UNITING HEARTS
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS TO ORPHANS WHEN THEY TURN 18? 

Rustenburg – As part of its Mandela Month celebrations, IWISA No 1 joined the team from Three Star Powertrade at the Lighthouse Children’s Home on Wednesday 17 July 2024, to create awareness about the critical work of this local NPO. 

Currently supporting 66 children without any sustained government support, the Lighthouse team of local heroes and heroines works tirelessly each day to create hope and possibility for all the children in their care. In the spirit of Mandela Month, this day provided an opportunity to acknowledge them, thank them, and offer a helping hand.

Started at the end of 2019 to offer a place of safety and new possibilities to 11 vulnerable children, the story of the Lighthouse Children’s Home is both inspirational and remarkable. “From the beginning, we were determined to change the lives and futures of the children in our care,” explains Elsa Doubell, co-founder of Lighthouse. “Our starting point was to rally the local community of Rustenburg – to help us buy a property where we could create a home, a safe space for them.”

Five short years later, Lighthouse now finds itself at capacity, supporting 66 vulnerable children from the community, aged from just a few months old to almost 18. “The collective team from Lighthouse has made the ‘impossible’ possible,” says Sibongile Mooko, Premier FMCG Executive: Marketing Milling. “Working against all odds, they have succeeded in expanding their work and impact across the community. They’re now on the brink of taking a critical next step in their journey – to purchase an adjoining property that can be used as an ‘exit home’ for the children turning 18 years old this year, who need to leave the Home’s care because of their age. We’re here to create awareness about this important next step – and encourage the community to rally with us to make it happen!”

Doubell explains that while turning 18 is a milestone for the Lighthouse beneficiaries, it is a critical reality check for our current childcare system: “When these children reach the age of majority, we can no longer provide for them as we currently do. They need to ‘move out’ of our home and live on their own as adults. Without the right guidance, care, and support (including financial support), this could prove impossible and undo all the positives they have created for themselves in the time they have spent at Lighthouse. Our goal to create an ‘exit home’ is therefore a priority.”

The team has earmarked a property adjacent to the ones Lighthouse already owns. Ideally located, this “transition space” will allow these young adults to live independently while being equipped with the critical life skills they need; everything from mental and physical health and wellbeing, all the way through to financial literacy.

“The target amount needed to purchase the exit house property is R600,000,” says Mooko. “This needs to be raised by the end of November – a message we’re sharing very strongly today!” She explains that there are two ways that consumers and members of the community can assist the NPO to reach this target: by donating directly or through purchasing any IWISA No 1 product at Three Star Powertrade. “As part of our IWISA No 1 Fills Good campaign, all purchases of IWISA No 1 result in a direct donation to Lighthouse – the campaign beneficiary. All amounts from the campaign will be pooled, with the collective donation amount handed over to the NPO at the start of December 2024.”

“With just four months to go to raise the collective amount, we want to encourage members across our Rustenburg community to open their hearts and take action,” says Wayne Labuschagne, store owner of Three Star Powertrade. “Please make your purchase choice count, and help us ensure the positive future journeys of the Lighthouse beneficiaries by supporting this incredible team of local heroes and heroines. Lighthouse, we salute you and we thank you for your incredible work!”

For more information, please visit www.lighthousekids.co.za or contact admin@lighthousekids.co.za.

Main photo: A young Lighthouse Children’s Home orphan proudly pointing to the organisation’s logo, symbolising hope and a brighter future.