Aletta and Gerrie Herbst started the House of Grace 15 years ago. House of Grace is a place of safety for abused children who are sent to them by the police, Tygerberg Hospital, or social workers.
They have 27 children currently, of which 7 are Foster children. The other children have been placed there by social workers. The children’s ages range from 6 months to 16 years old. Someof the children are siblings and some are orphaned.
Aletta herself was abandoned as a child, and lived since the age of 10 on the streets of Cape Town for 2 years, sleeping at night in the waiting room at Cape Town station. She was taken care of by a cleaner who worked at the station, who would bring her food and clothing. The cleaning lady was eventually able to get Social Services to send the young Aletta aged 12 to a boarding school in Wolmeransstad, Gauteng.
House of Grace is on a farm outside fisantekraal.Aletta and Gerrie do not receive a government subsidy or grant for the kids. They survive by means of hand outs from churches, businesses and individuals.
The farm has given them the use of a house.
They had one child, age 3, that has HIV/AIDS , but the child has been placed in a facility for terminal children.
The House of Grace most Urgent needs is food on a monthly basis, funds for medical expenses and nappies and baby formula.
These are their biggest hurdles.
