Asilibali

31/05/2026

We celebrate a special day, Foster Care Day today

There are 43 500 children in foster care in the Western Cape today, some of them are in children's institutions all over the Western cape, and some of them are in family homes all over the Western cape.

We say we can't do it, we will get attached, we will not be able to give them back that will be too hard, it's exactly the kind of heart we need to do what God has ask us to do, is to look after the orphans. We need hearts that care how we feel, because a harden heart is not going to have compassion, and brokenness towards this vulnerable babies and children.

Please be part of this huge need in the Western Cape be a foster parent for the most vulnerable children in our communities.

Contact any social worker/and organization that works with vulnerable children in your area and make yourself available to take in one foster child at a time.
Children needs to belong to a family.

13/05/2026

The story of our first baby 🤍

Seventeen years ago, while living in a little home on Lancaster Street in Gordon's Bay, something happened that would change our lives forever.

One October afternoon during the school holidays, my brothers and I decided to walk down to the beach for ice cream. It was something we often did, a simple little tradition. There was a small ice cream shop near the beachfront that everyone loved, and because we went there so often, we knew most of the girls working there.

That day, though, there was a new face behind the counter.

She was young, quiet, and visibly pregnant. I greeted her and asked if she was new. She shyly
replied, “Yes, aunty.” I remember asking if her parents were excited for the baby, and she quietly
answered that she had no parents. Then I asked about the baby’s father, and she told us that when he found out she was pregnant, he disappeared.

Her story stayed with me long after we walked home with our ice creams.

That evening, when Andre came home, I told him about this young girl named Loretta. Her story reminded me so much of myself when I had once felt alone and uncertain. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I told Andre that I really wanted to help her, and that I wanted her to come and stay with us.

The next day, with Andre’s support, I walked back to the shop and asked if I could speak to her. I told her that although we barely knew each other, I wanted to open our home to her and help her through her pregnancy.

I gave her our address and invited her to come and see our home for herself, because I knew it must have sounded unbelievable that strangers would offer her a place to stay.

When she arrived with a friend, we showed her around where she would stay, and reassured her that she could continue working while we helped her prepare for her baby. A few days later, she phoned and accepted.

It wasn’t always easy in the beginning. We all had to adjust. There were rules, routines, emotions, and challenges. But over time, Loretta became like family to us. Andre and I helped prepare for her baby, took her to scans, encouraged her through her fears, and walked every step of pregnancy with her.

Then one day, while standing in the kitchen talking to me, her water broke.

We rushed her to hospital, getting lost and panicking along the way, until finally arriving at the
maternity clinic in Macasa. I stayed beside her as she gave birth to a tiny, beautiful little boy named Jason, weighing only 2.3kg. That night, I stayed with her at the hospital, helping her care for him and encouraging her through those very first hours of motherhood.

Loretta stayed with us until Jason was three months old. While she worked hard at the ice cream shop, eventually becoming manager, baby Jason stayed home with me during the day. Watching her slowly rebuild her life was something incredibly special to witness.

Over the years, life took Loretta down different roads, but she will always hold a special place in
our hearts because she was our very first baby, the very first young mother who became part of our home and our story. And little did we know then, that one simple walk for ice cream would
become the beginning of something so much bigger than ourselves.

04/05/2026

27/04/2026

🤍

21/04/2026

Looking back over the past 10 years and reminiscing over all the memories we have made with Angelique, my heart feels so full. This past Saturday, as we celebrated her 10th birthday at Wild Wild West Kids Play Park in Strand, I found myself pausing and really thinking about who Angelique is, not just the little girl we’ve raised, but the young girl she is becoming.

At 10 years old, she is becoming so confidently herself. When I think of Angelique, I think of how she can be so funny without even trying, how her creativity shines in everything she does, and how naturally motherly she is with all our other children, always caring, always looking out for them. She carries a quiet spirit about her, something gentle and calm that makes her so uniquely special.

And then there’s her laughter… once those giggles start, they don’t stop 🤣 filling every space with the kind of joy you wish you could bottle forever.

Angelique, you are growing into someone so special, and it has been the greatest privilege to walk this life with you. God has truly blessed us, not only with the chance to love you, but to be loved by you.

We love you our precious girl 🤍💙

18/04/2026

Happy 10th Birthday, our sweet Angelique 🤍🩷💙

For 10 whole years, you have been such a special part of our lives, and we are so grateful for every moment with you. You are smart, funny, and have the most beautiful, caring heart. We love your quiet, quirky nature, you are so uniquely you, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Watching you grow into the amazing girl you are has been such a joy. We are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to see all the beautiful things your future holds. No matter what, we will always be right here, loving you, supporting you, and walking every step of this journey with you.

We love you more than words can say 🤍
Mom & Dad

11/04/2026

How Our Story Began – André & Eunice

This is the first time I’ve ever really shared my story.
Not just pieces of it - but the journey of how André and I became one. Not only in marriage, but in purpose… in calling… and in the life God has led us to live.

And like every story, ours had a beginning…

I was born in Kempton Park, the second oldest of five children. Life was simple, but full of love. André was also born in Kempton Park, but his story looked a little different, he was an only child. His mother would often bring children home from the local orphanage to spend holidays with him so that he could make friends and play. Looking back now, I can see how God was already placing something special in his heart.

We went to the same primary school, but it was only in Grade 6 that we really connected. By high school, we had become good friends. André was always looking out for me, steady, kind, and present in a way that I would only fully understand years later.

When i was 16, I fell pregnant. I knew in my heart that abortion was never an option for me personally, I knew that I wanted to keep my baby and do everything I could to look after him and myself. But the reality was, I had nowhere to go and no place to live. It was a very uncertain and overwhelming time in my life. That’s when André, my best friend, stepped in. He showed up for me when I needed it most. Together, we made the decision to get married and face everything that lay ahead, side by side.

In 1984, we got married. I was just 16, and André was 20. We were young, but we stepped into life together with open hearts, not fully knowing what lay ahead, but trusting God with our future. Our family grew quickly. Our firstborn son, Juan-Pierre, was born, and just 14 months later, Phillip followed. Two years after that, our third son, Ivan, was born. Three boys who filled our home with life, energy, and so much love.

We lived on a small holding in Bonaero Park, just outside Kempton Park, and our boys attended school in Benoni. During that season, something deep began to grow in our lives, we gave our hearts fully to God. We became born-again Christians and started attending Rhema Church in Randburg. Church wasn’t just something we attended, it became part of who we were. We served in home cell groups, Bible school, and our children were actively involved in children’s church and camps. But even beyond church, something even deeper was forming in our home.

We always had a heart for broken and lost people.

Our boys grew up watching us open our doors to those in need, especially the homeless. Our home became a place of refuge, often filled with people who needed love, care, and a place to belong. I also ran a clothing shop where I gathered clothes for the homeless and less privileged. This wasn’t something we just spoke about, it was something we lived every day. Our boys learned what it meant to give, to care, and to love people without conditions. Our home was rarely quiet, but it was always full of purpose.

In 1998, we moved to Cape Town and settled in Strand. The boys attended Strand High School, and life entered a new season. Through it all, one thing never left my heart, I have always loved children. And I began to notice that children were naturally drawn to me. I started praying and asking God what He wanted me to do with my life. I knew I wanted to serve Him wholeheartedly, I just didn’t yet know what that would look like.

And then, God made it clear.

God placed a very special calling on my heart, to care for young pregnant women.
That calling began in a very personal way, when I met a young girl named Loretta. She was pregnant and in need of a home, and something in my heart just knew I needed to open our door to her. What started as a simple act of helping quickly became something so much deeper. I didn’t just offer her a place to stay, I walked closely with her through that season. I loved her, cared for her, and nurtured her in a time when she needed it most. I became not only a mother to her, but also a friend, someone she could talk to, lean on, and feel safe with.

Not long after that, my close friend’s daughter also found herself in the same situation, pregnant and with nowhere to go. Without hesitation, we welcomed her into our home as well. And just like that, our home became a place of refuge once again, but now in a deeper and more intentional way. It was no longer just about opening our home, it was about opening our hearts. We walked alongside these young women, supporting them, encouraging them, and surrounding them with love during one of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives. I remember feeling so incredibly blessed during that time. God’s grace was so evident in our home, and I could clearly see that this was more than just helping, it was the beginning of the calling He had placed on my life.

Then one evening, everything changed.

A friend phoned me and told me about a newborn baby boy who needed a home.
And in that moment… something in my heart settled. That was the moment my calling, to care for children truly began.

Through every step of this journey, I have never been alone. My boys and my wonderful husband stood behind me 100%, supporting me in every way they could. They understood that this was not just something I was doing, this was something God had called us to as a family. Through the difficult seasons, the heartbreaking moments, and even the most beautiful ones, they stood with me.

As the years went on, our family grew, not just in number, but in purpose. My youngest son, Ivan, got married, and his wife Natasha didn’t just become part of our family, she stepped in wholeheartedly. Together, they embraced this calling and joined us in the mission God had given us. They have become such an important part of the work we do, standing alongside us in loving and caring for the children. Today, our lives have settled into a beautiful rhythm.
My grandchildren and my foster children are growing up together, not just as family, but as best friends. There is laughter in our home, there is love, and there is a deep sense of belonging.

Looking back now, I can see how God was writing our story all along. From Kempton Park… to Bonaero Park… to Cape Town…Through friendship, marriage, motherhood, and calling. What began as two lives coming together became something so much greater than we ever imagined. A family. A purpose. A home for the vulnerable. A calling that continues to grow.

I truly love my family, and I am so grateful for the life God has given us. We cannot wait to see what God has in store for our family going forward.

Yours Sincerely
Eunice 💛

08/04/2026

COMING THIS WEEK…

A deeply personal story.

The journey of the two people behind Asilibali - and how it all began.

Don’t miss this. 💛

Please like, comment & share to help us take these stories further than we ever could alone. 💛

01/04/2026

We are excited to introduce our newly refreshed page, now representing a new season for our work and calling.

With a fresh page and vision, we continue forward with the same heart and mission that has guided us from the beginning. We are Andre & Eunice Ruthvenbruijns, and this is a little about us and what we love.

For the past 17 years, we have opened our home and our hearts to children in need through temporary safe care and foster care. What began as a step of faith has grown into a life long calling, one we believe God placed deeply within us as part of our ministry and purpose.

We are a couple committed to creating a safe, loving, and stable environment for every child entrusted to us. Each child who comes through our doors is treated with dignity, compassion, and care, no matter how long or short their stay may be. We understand that behind every placement is a story, and we strive to be a place of comfort, healing, and hope during uncertain times.

Our journey has been filled with both challenges and incredible moments of joy. We have witnessed resilience in its purest form and have been humbled by the strength and courage of the children we serve. It is our passion to walk alongside them, offering not only practical support but also emotional and spiritual encouragement. Foster care is more than something we do it is who we are. We are dedicated to serving with integrity, guided by faith, and driven by love. Every child matters, and every moment of care can make a lasting difference.

We are grateful to be part of each child’s journey and to serve this calling with open hearts. 💛

26/11/2025

Fostering started for me 10 years ago; I remember it like yesterday. Three days before my 50th birthday, I got a call about a little girl who needed to be placed in a loving home. Kyla was born on 28 September. Her weight was 1.4kg. My first premmie baby, I had to fetch little Kyla from Tygerberg Hospital, on the afternoon of my birthday.

Was she small, tiny, only a handful? I fell in love with this little girl the moment I saw her. 🥺

Our fostering journey started with her until she was 9 months old. We met Anne and Brian Tusky from USA Washington, it was a bitter sweet experience, heartbroken when she left, but also blessed too have called her my little girl, she was just the sweetest, cutest baby girl, but that is what we called to do, love them until the forever mommie and daddie comes to take their tiny girl home were she belongs.

And then you see how they grow over the years, just into the most beautiful girl; she becomes her own person.
Kyla is now 10 years old, and Brian sent these beautiful photos so we could see how beautiful our little girl has grown. We are so proud of her and blessed. 🖤

The love stories, the feedback, give you hope to go on and the grace to trust God, because He knows the plans of each little one who walks into our hearts as a family. We are blessed by every baby placed into our care and by those who become part of our family.