Arguably one of the biggest issues we currently face here in South Africa is that of our countries unwanted and abandoned babies. It is a time bomb the effect of which we can’t even begin to imagine.  As AIDS and other diseases grip our nation and as the unemployment rate rises we are faced with an awesome challenge; how are we going to deal with our 1.5 million orphans, abandoned babies and street kids? How are we going to cope as this figure rises post the 2010 World Cup? Literally hundreds of babies each day (some of them only hours old) are being left on the street outside the offices of Child Welfare, in public toilets or in dumpsters. Social issues like crime will never drop significantly with this many unloved, sick, parentless children.

As part of our work to combat crime, Cathy and I have set up a home for abandoned babies on our property in Umhlanga. We are able to take in up to 4 babies at a time and we feed, cloth, medicate and provide them with a loving home until they are placed with foster or adoptive homes. We currently have three beautiful little girls (aged 4 months, 4 months & 1 month) and a little boy aged 3 months.

 It is preposterous that last year we had only 1600 adoptions nationally. Hence our secondary aim is using our media campaign and radio programme Stop Crime Say Hello to  advocate that other couples do the same (or foster or adopt) if they can.

The total running costs of a home with 4 cots including day and nighttime care givers, formula, nappies, clothes etc, is in the order of R15k per month. We work with a wonderful NGO called Big Shoes that provide our babies with medical testing and check-ups.

However, we aren’t able to do this without assistance. We would be enormously grateful if you could get involved in any of the following ways:

1. Commit to a monthly financial contribution or a once off.
   
2. Adopt-a-cot. We will keep you updated on the progress of the little one/s you are supporting with pictures and a detailed account of their progress towards adoption. This is approx R3500 per month.
3. Sponsor nappies and formula. We use around 20kg’s of Infacare 1 and Infacare 2 per month and a whopping 1000 nappies!
4. Help with incidentals such as nappy sacks, wet wipes, bum cream, bath soap etc

We know this is just a drop in the ocean; however it is one way that we can all work together to make a significant difference. This small beginning will facilitate more baby houses all over the country; more kids going to happy homes, more adoptions, fewer street kids, less crime, more HIV and TB treatment and less premature loss of life.