Hannah’s Place of Safety, founded in 2016 by Janine Fabe, is a heart-warming NGO dedicated to providing a loving and secure environment for abused and abandoned children in need of care and protection. Named after Janine’s adopted daughter, who herself was once an abandoned baby, this organisation aims to restore the lives of these vulnerable children by offering them a temporary home filled with love, support and nurturing care.  

When we asked our June cover star, Emo Adams, to select a worthy charity for our Club Cares initiative, he reached out to the Mitchells Plain community, who felt Hannah’s Place was the NGO of choice. 

A SAFE HAVEN 

The organisation works closely with the Department of Social Development to offer “safety care” to children who have experienced various forms of neglect, abuse or abandonment. These children, typically between the ages of birth and one year, are placed in the care of this compassionate organisation for a period of three to six months. During their stay, the dedicated staff diligently works to improve the physical and emotional well-being of each child. 

COMPREHENSIVE CARE 

Upon arrival, many of the children are in poor physical condition, having suffered neglect, abuse or malnutrition, or with illnesses such as TB, pneumonia or HIV. The organisation ensures that every child receives the necessary medical attention. 

A private doctor is readily available to conduct thorough checkups, provide medical treatment and make referrals to hospital, if needed. The dedicated staff members are trained in first aid and undergo caregiver training to offer optimal care and support. In addition to medical care, Hannah’s Place of Safety prioritises the overall development of the youngsters in its care. 

Occupational therapists regularly visit the facility to assess and support the children’s progress. The organisation believes in the importance of family, and therefore family visits are arranged once a week, allowing children to maintain connections with their biological or foster parents. This commitment to family ties and supervised reintegration ensures that the children experience the love and support of a nurturing environment. 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND EDUCATION 

Hannah’s Place of Safety actively encourages community involvement and awareness regarding the circumstances that lead to children being placed in its care and protection. The organisation welcomes investors, donors and community members to visit their premises in Westridge, witness the incredible work being done, and meet the children. 

This open-door policy serves as an educational opportunity for the community to understand the challenges faced by these vulnerable children, and the importance of foster care in providing them with a stable and loving family environment. 

MAKING A L ASTING IMPACT 

The impact of Hannah’s Place goes beyond the walls of its facility. The organisation collaborates with safety-care parents in the Mitchells Plain area, supporting their efforts to care for vulnerable children. 

“We’ve had 210 babies through our doors since 2017, and 95% of them are now placed into good families and doing extremely well,” says Janine proudly. Through sharing resources and providing assistance, Hannah’s Place of Safety strives to make the work of these dedicated caregivers a little easier, extending their reach and impact to more children in need. 

As with any non-profit organisation, keeping the doors open is their biggest challenge. “Finances will always be an issue but we have to keep the lights on and ensure that our babies have all they need,” says Janine. There’s no doubt the Club Cares donation will be of great help. “We’ll be putting the donation towards our solar system,” she says, with load shedding now being a part of the day-to-day struggles. 

GET INVOLVED 

Visit hannahsplaceofsafety. org, call them on 066-073-7233 or follow them on Facebook ‘Hannah’s Place of Safety’ if you’d like to make a donation or volunteer your time.