Closing Our Doors to Open New Ones: Why Children Belong in Families
“All I wanted was for my children to be with me, but I didn’t know how to make it possible.” These were the words of a mother who once stood at the edge of losing her children. Poverty, stress, and the absence of support had left her overwhelmed and ready to give them up. For […]
Online Workshops, Changing Lives
By now, most of us are used to doing things online. At GCF, we have embraced this shift too, yet it never ceases to amaze us how technology lets us reach people across South Africa and even beyond without leaving our offices. In 2025 alone, we have trained around 130 social service practitioners through online […]
From Foster Care to Forever Families: A Heart-warming Goodbye
On a warm afternoon, we gathered at one of our foster mothers’ homes, nestled deep in a rural area where rolling green hills stretch far and wide, and cows and goats roam freely along the narrow roads. This meeting was special. After many years of walking together, it was time to officially close this particular […]
The Ripple Effect of Training: Empowering Families, Communities and Social Workers
So much has changed over the years. When I think about training, I realise how deeply embedded it is in GCF’s work. For nearly 25 years, we have been equipping others, starting with preparing people to receive children into foster care. Over time, this has evolved into training parents to reunite with their biological children, […]
“Where is my mommy?” – Transition from institution to family
I don’t know how many times I have had little girls and boys looking at me with big eyes, asking, “Where is my mommy?” or “When am I moving?” Children were moving, but it was always the ones left behind, waiting and longing. Years later, not working with GCF’s foster care programme anymore, this memory […]
Embracing Zenande
In the heart of one of the villages where GCF operates resides Mrs Khumalo and her family. On a warm, sunny afternoon, we visit her to talk about her foster care journey. Driven by a desire to make a difference in children’s lives, Mrs Khumalo who was working as a nurse at a local hospital […]
Threads of Hope: Emily and Michelle’s Journey with Give a Child a Family Africa
“If Amahle would not have come to us, she would have been dead now.” Emily and Michelle speak enthusiastically about the little girl they consider a miracle child. She is only one of several children who have been given a new chance to experience a loving family environment through their care. We are visiting the […]
What God did then, He can do now
When Mrs Cele’s sister expressed interest in becoming a foster mother, she found herself drawn to the idea as well. They had already heard about suffering children in need of secure and loving families to welcome them into their homes. When they found out about Give a Child a Family Africa (GCF), the sisters took […]
Essential Rights Every Child Deserves Without Question
Did you know that March marks Human Rights Month in South Africa? If this fact slipped under your radar, take a moment to pause and delve into its significance. You might assume that human rights are distant concepts, irrelevant to your daily life. However, they are deeply intertwined with our collective existence – touching each […]
My neighbours are asking if I’m mad
“My neighbours are asking if I’m mad,” Mrs Dlamini laughs. She enthusiastically shares her foster care journey with us, sitting on the family’s sofa with the sun shining in through the open door. Chickens are running around in the garden facing the many houses on the green hills. For Mr and Mrs Dalmini, it began […]