Teens who get closer to the age of 18 and live in the care system often feel dread as to what comes next; ageing out of care can be daunting, but Home from Home is working to change that.
South Africa (18 June 2025) – In South Africa, the care system has become the only refuge and safe space for many children. Some are lucky, and either return home when it is safer or is adopted into families who are committed to helping them flourish, but teens who reach 18 without these options are often left to fend for themselves when the clock strikes midnight.
Stability, having parents to fall back on and financial options are some of the perks of having family nearby, but that is, in fact, a great privilege in life. For some teens, the only homes they have ever known have been care facilities or foster homes. When they turn 18, the funding stops.
Legally required to leave their foster homes, many are left without stable housing, support, or access to education and employment. Home from Home, one of the country’s largest cluster foster care organisations is working to change this through its Transitional Support Programme.
Launched in 2019, the programme, with the support of intensively trained foster parents and social workers, provides young adults ageing out of Home from Home care with critical guidance, life skills development, job preparation and resources to build independent and stable lives. Moreover, it is an extended space of safety, belonging and family.
This programme breaks the cycle, giving teens a fair chance to make it as adults. For Sinokhanyo Piedt, the support programme has been life-changing. He grew up at Home from Home Iltha Park in Khayelitsha before moving to transitional housing in 2022 after “ageing out”. The transitional home became his grown-up safe space, giving him the chance to find his footing as a young adult.
He shared a little of his story in the hope of highlighting why this is such an important programme and why more organisations working with teens should consider these kinds of programmes.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Home from Home. They provided me with stability, a roof over my head, clothes to wear, and access to education. My (foster) mother, Nomnikelo Kemele, dedicated 20 years to caring for my (foster) siblings and I, something our biological parents struggled with. Mama Nicky always prioritized us, and the home gave me that second chance at belonging to a family.”
“Mama Nicky is my biggest role model, and the person I am is a testament to the mother she is. She taught me that success starts with good basic values, and that respect is earned by giving it to others,” adds Sinokhanyo.
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Even at Home from Home, 80 of their current children and teens will age out in the next 5 years.
“Children being referred to Home from Home experience neglect, abuse, or abandonment before finding stability in one of our foster homes, where they build a sense of family, trust, and belonging” says Peter Marx, Executive Director of Home from Home.
“Then at 18, as they start to feel secure, they are required to leave their foster homes to make space for younger children in need. Without continued support, this shift can be debilitating.”
“There is a dire need for more transitional programmes in South Africa. If ones like ours are not in place, then what happens to those young adults?” asks Marx.
There are thousands of young adults, like Sinokhanyo Piedt, who can become positively contributing members of society if given the chance.
“Being at the transitional home has taught me so much. I’ve learnt about responsibility and job preparation, and built skills like budgeting, meal planning, and time and household management. I’ve been able to set goals, and create a plan to achieve them without worrying about where I’ll sleep or where my next meal comes from,” says Sinokhanyo.
Grateful for what it has given them, many of the young people being supported by the transitional programme are developing a desire to give back. This echoed by Sinokhanyo, who says:
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and I’m committed to making a positive impact. I want to give hope to those who feel lost in life, and one day build an organisation and space for people like me to heal, grow, and thrive.”
The foster care grant provided by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is R1250 per child per month, which terminates when the child turns 18. Home from Home spends five times this amount per child per month, and independently funds its transitional programmes through donations.
Home from Home is calling on individuals, businesses, and organisations to join efforts in making a difference, by supporting fundraising initiatives for 2025.
For more information about Home From Home and to donate, visit https://homefromhome.org.za/.
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