From survivor to protector, Ms. P is building a safe haven for vulnerable children, proving that one person can change countless lives.
South Africa (13 August 2025) – To the girls in her neighbourhood, she’s “Aunty P”, a safe place in human form. For Ms. P, caring for the next generation goes far beyond her own family. It’s her way of healing from the pain she endured as a child and offering the comfort she once wished for.
Her dream is rooted in her past: to open a nursery and kids’ club for children in vulnerable situations, keeping them safe, in school, and away from harm.
“I would have wanted someone to take me in, comfort me and tell me that everything will be okay. Just a place where I can say I belong,” she says.
Despite surviving more than most can imagine, Ms. P turned her instinct to protect into action, earning her Family Matters certificate and opening her home to a growing group of 28 girls. Together they cook, bake, learn, protest gender-based violence, and talk about life’s challenges.
“Whenever I’m with them, I feel motivated. I feel like I’m in a different world.”
Her message to them is clear: value your education, protect your future, and know where to find help. With the support of the Empathologist Foundation, Ms. P is slowly building the space she dreamed of, one that could reach even more children and give them the start she never had.
Her story is a reminder that the biggest change often begins with one person, one safe space, and the decision to protect what’s precious. In working with The Empathologist Foundation, Ms. P’s dreams have the power to become a reality.
You can find out more about supporting them here.
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