One Child One Family - Hope and Homes for Children SA

18/08/2026

To mark the 30th anniversary of , we asked young people around the world to write a letter to their future selves!

Young people were invited them to reflect on what they would want their future selves to remember about the role philanthropy can play in empowering young people to shape the world they want to live in.

Their letters capture hopes, expectations and reminders for the future , and a powerful call to keep young people at the heart of philanthropy.

Read their letters below https://loom.ly/qJPhbn4

For International Youth Day 2026, and to mark the 30th anniversary of Alliance magazine, we asked young people around the world to write a letter to their future selves. We invited them to reflect on …

09/08/2026

Today, we celebrate women. But for us, this is more than a day of recognition. Because when we look at the work we do, we see women everywhere.

We see the mothers who hold families together through the hardest of times. We see the grandmothers who step in, nurture, protect and keep families connected.

We see the women caring for children, often carrying the weight of entire households on their shoulders. We see the caregivers, social workers, community leaders and partners who show up every day to make sure children are safe, loved and given the chance to thrive.

And we see the women and girls whose voices, courage and determination continue to challenge systems and create change.

And, honestly, without mothers and the countless women who care for children and families, the work we do would not exist in the way it does today.

We say thank you.

31/07/2026

We want accountability and our words turned into action." - says OVM

These words from OVM Youth captured the spirit of the OVM South Africa Kick-off Session.

This was more than the start of a programme, it was the beginning of meaningful partnership. Young people came together to share their experiences, voice the issues that matter most to them, and help shape solutions for the future.

Together, we're turning conversations into action and building a future where every young person's voice matters.

24/07/2026

For more than five years, the voices of OVM young people have shaped a powerful vision for the future. Their message is clear: they want meaningful participation, real partnership, and a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Discover how the OVM Charter reflects this journey and the commitment to building relationships that are informed, fun, authentic, and rooted in shared purpose.

Read the latest edition of OVM News and learn how young people are leading change!

18/07/2026

This Mandela Day, we honour Madiba's legacy by recognising that meaningful change begins with how we care for our children.

We believe every child deserves more than shelter, they deserve the love, care, and belonging that only a family can provide. Through strengthening families, supporting children at risk, and working to end the institutionalisation of children, we are helping build communities where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Together, we can ensure that every child grows up safe, loved, and surrounded by family.

26/06/2026

This International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, we are reminded that substance abuse is deeply connected to many of the challenges facing children in South Africa, including violence, neglect, exploitation and crime.

Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and supportive environment where they can learn, play and thrive. Protecting children means investing in strong families, mental health support, safe communities and opportunities that help young people reach their full potential.

Together, we can build a future where children are protected from the harmful impacts of drugs and violence.

16/06/2026

In 2001, Hope and Homes for Children arrived in South Africa with four local partners and one conviction: no child needs to grow up in an orphanage.

We set out to help make that vision a reality. Working alongside experienced social workers and partners across all nine provinces, we undertook the first national assessment of children living in South African institutions.

Twenty-five years later, South Africa has committed to ending the institutionalisation of children by 2030.

This progress has been driven by collaboration, evidence, and a shared belief that children belong in safe, loving families and communities.

Read the full story

Children in Orphanages in South Africa. Here's how 25 years of evidence, advocacy, and community action led to a national 2030 commitment.

16/06/2026

05/06/2026

As part of Child Protection Week, we hosted a community awareness campaign in Soweto, bringing together government departments, NGOs, service providers, and community members under the theme, "Working Together in Ending Violence Against Children."

The event highlighted the importance of keeping children in safe, nurturing family environments and strengthening community-based support systems.

Stakeholders shared information on:
- Reporting child abuse and neglect
- Child sexual abuse response and safeguarding processes
- Counselling and psychosocial support services
- Nutrition, food security, and educational support programmes
- Social grants available to vulnerable children and families
- Substance abuse prevention and intervention
- Adoption and foster care as alternative care options
- The role of communities in protecting children and promoting accountability

A key message echoed throughout the day: protecting children is everyone's responsibility. By working together, we can create safer homes, schools, and communities where every child can thrive.

Every child deserves to grow up safe, supported, and surrounded by care.

16/05/2026

We recently hosted an Autism training session facilitated by the Els For Autism, South Africa, aimed at equipping caregivers and stakeholders with a better understanding of children’s behavioural and developmental needs.

The training covered important topics including:
• Understanding challenging behaviour
• Identifying behaviour that may threaten the child or others
• The importance of children’s sensory development
• Prevention and intervention strategies
• Task analysis and the importance of routine in a child’s daily life

The session provided valuable tools and practical approaches to better support children living with autism and create environments that promote understanding, structure, and care.

We remain committed to empowering communities through education and awareness initiatives that support the wellbeing of children and families.