South African Orphanage 2021

Siyabusiswa Children's Home - Our Story

In 2010, Thembekile Mtakwenda began providing for children in her community by supplying school lunches. Soon afterward, she began to care for children left destitute by family violence and orphaned after the death of their parents. Gogo Thembe opened not only her heart, but the doors to her home to these children. Soon the demand for her care outgrew her small home. She was blessed with a bigger home, but that too became too small for the increase in children brought to her home.

New Covenant Seekers Church began partnering with "Granny" in 2015 by supplying groceries every 6-8 weeks, especially during the school holidays, and sweets with presents for the children for Easter and Christmas.

In 2017 while visiting from Calvary Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, Ken & Donna Smith feel in love with the children and wanted to help with their accommodation and needs. The envisioned building a new facility for the children and provided living quarters for one of the caregivers, who was living in a metal container.

In 2020, construction began on a two-story building with a fully furnished kitchen, pantry, crèche (preschool) and a large dinning hall, restrooms and bedroom on the first floor. The second floor has a warm balcony and large meeting space that will serve as a study hall and sanctuary for services.

Granny is grateful for New Covenant Seekers Church, Ken & Donna Smith, Calvary Church and other financial supporters who have meet the numerous needs of the Siyabusiswa Children's Home.