The Brummer family are doing everything they can to keep the Malachi Place of Safety open to reach their 20th anniversary.
Cape Town, South Africa (28 July 2024)—The Malachi Place of Safety was established in 2005 and will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. The organisation provides a safe haven for abused and abandoned children.
Run by the Brummer family, they provide a loving and caring environment for over 160 children who have experienced trauma, aiming to restore their trust in adults and give them hope for the future. The family personally funds the home from their own incomes, but since 2021, Ruan, the home’s go-to dad, a retired fSouth African Police Service’s Child Protection Officer, things have gotten tough. Home mother Audrey, who is now in her 60s too, shared insight into the expenses of the home.
Making Every Cent Count
While they do receive financial assistance from the government, the allocated grant of R39.00 per day falls considerably short of meeting the essential needs necessary for adequate child care. As a result, they depend on the kindness of sponsors and donors to fill this funding gap. The foster care grant amounts to R1050 per month, and the safety grant is R39 per day.
Financial challenges are one of the greatest worries for Audrey and Ruan.
In order to sustain the ongoing operations of the home, Malachi Place of Safety is launching a campaign to appeal to members of the public for monthly donations towards this worthwhile mission. Contributions can be as little as R100 per month or as much as the donors can afford. The current funding deficit to keep Malachi going is over R50,000/ month.
“Sadly, we have been forced to cancel both our house insurance and insurance on our Kombi last month, which we use to take the children to school each day and to hospital appointments. We have no choice as the children’s needs have to be met first.”
“This is an expensive vehicle, but highly necessary as we have around 10 children in our care at all times, and have to get them to places. Should anything happen to the vehicle we would be in a dire situation, quite unthinkable. We have a child with Nephrotic Syndrome who often requires urgent doctor and hospital visits, and many other challenges. We have a very talented boy who has been with us for 16 years and is busy with doing trials for Western Province Touch Rugby. Petrol getting him to and from trials is crippling us, not to mention the kit he needs, his growing feet and his enormous appetite.”
Audrey shared that the organisation’s Safe Mother has been using her limited salary, to help pay for electricity. So the situation has become dire.
“We are hoping for long-term, ongoing funding from people, of course once off is gladly accepted, but we find ourselves back in a dire situation the following month. Perhaps just sharing our story and making people aware of us can start the ball rolling for long-term help. We really hope so.”
For those able to help, please reach out via the website here: http://www.malachiplaceofsafety.com
by 