FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
- AM I ABLE TO VOLUNTEER?
Yes. We love volunteers. However, at present we are not accepting volunteers at our children’s home due to COVID-19. The safety of our kids and staff are a priority. However as soon as this changes we will definitely let you know. Keep an eye out on our social media.
- HOW AND WHAT CAN I DONATE?
There are many ways that you are able to donate. You can donate CASH via ZAPPER, EFT or a monthly debit order. You can find all the details HERE on our website.
Bank: Nedbank – Current Account
Account Name: iThemba Lethu
Account Number: 130 1240 958
Branch: 130 126
Ref: Your Name and Surname/Company
We also accept items off our current needs list:
Please CLICK HERE to access the latest needs list on our website
Formula: Infacare 1 and 2
Nappies and toiletries: Baby Wash Top to Toe/Elizabeth Anne’s Nappies sizes Huggies size 2, 3, 4 ,4+, 5 Clothes for girls between 2 weeks and 2 years Clothes for boys between 2 weeks and 2 years Baby wipes
Fruit & Veg: Butternut, sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, gem squash, spinach, baby marrow, tomatoes, green/red/yellow pepper, carrots, cucumber, apples, pears, strawberries, bananas
Cereal/porridge: Maltabela, Nutrifix, Oats, Mealie Meal
Frozen food: Crumbed hake, fish fingers, fish cakes, chicken fillets/burgers, viennas, pork/beef sausages, beef burgers, mixed veg, country mix veg, chips
Other food: Tuna, bully beef, onion + tomatoes, black beans, butter beans, peaches, baked beans, pilchards, oil, fresh milk full cream, long life milk full cream,
Smash – plain, microwave popcorn, white and brown onion soup, chicken/beef instant gravy, sugar, Melrose cheese spread, Fish paste, Marmite
Snacks: Ultramel Custard, jelly, Willards Flings, Hey Baby biscuits, Marie biscuits, rice cakes, corn cakes, Toppers
Tea/coffee: Ricoffy, Rooibos, Five Roses, Milo, Oros
Detergents: Domestos, Handy Andy, Sunlight Liquid, Sunlight Washing Powder 5kg
Pine Gel, Windolene, Black Bags
Babies standard size cot linen: Fitted sheets – standard cot x 12, Duvet inners and covers standard cot x 12
3. WHAT CAN I DO IF I HAVE A BABY, I CANNOT TAKE CARE OF?
Hearing the news that you are pregnant and knowing that you are having a baby that you feel you cannot take care of can be a very traumatic time for you as a mother. Having these feelings does not make you a bad person. It makes you a person who is facing a difficult time and having to make some hard decisions.
The number of abandoned babies in on the rise. However, we need you to know that abandoning a baby is a criminal offenceand that a desperate mother facing an unplanned pregnancy does have options.
The first step is to contact any social worker at any welfare organisation. The best option is to make contact with them when you first find out you are pregnant and let them know that you might not be able to take care of your child when he or she is born. Social workers are there to help you and should not judge you, because they know how hard it is today and the challenges we face. They will give you counselling and support and help you to make an informed decision that will in the best interest of you and your child.
iThemba Lethu is here to help you with that. You can contact our social worker, Nicole Freese, tell her your story and she can help link you with the right place and the right people. She is available on a Wednesday from 08:00 – 14:00 on 031 – 261 7723 or socialwork@ithembalethu.org.za or you can leave a message with Nonceba Buthelezi or email info@ithembalethu.org.za
Please do not abandon your child. All information is considered strictly confidential and your child could end up in a loving and safe home. You might even be re-united with your child in future once you are in a better place.
Disclaimer: iThemba Lethu does not approve of baby abandonment, nor are they trying to persuade mothers to abandon their babies. This is only an informative piece aimed at assisting desperate mothers.
4. WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF I WISH TO ADOPT?
I once read a comment by a lady on her process of adoption. She said “Adoption was a bumpy ride – very bumpy. But, it was worth the fight.” I would like to echo that upfront. It is not an easy process but is very much worth it as you learn that family is not defined by blood or our DNA, but is built through the practice of love, and we have a lot of that inside of us to make available to another child.
Right, your first step is to find an accredited adoption agency, or an adoption social worker in private practice. (If you would like to search for an adoption agency or private social worker in your area, use the site https://adoption.org.za/adoption-process. On the right there is a search box for “Service Providers”).
Once you have found an agency you will need to make contact with them and find out from them what are their requirements.
You will then:
- Submit an application to the agency.
- Undergo a “Screening/Preparation Phase”.
- Once the screening process is complete, applicants are placed on a waiting list for a child.
- You will be informed when you have been matched to a child. This is called the “Matching Phase”.
- Arrangements will be made for you to meet the child. This is called the “Linking Phase”. This is the period of being introduced to the child and then facilitate the bonding and connecting process. The time spent in this phase depends on the child’s age.
- Once all parties (social worker, temporary safe care mother, you the applicant) involved are happy with the placement, the child concerned will be allowed to go into your care. This is an official legal placement through the Children’s Court. The child is placed into your care as legal guardians via a foster care order.
- Once the child concerned has been with you, the new parents, for a period of time (around 3 months), the social worker will conduct a home visit and assess the adoption placement.
- If the social worker finds that this placement is “in the best interests of the child”, the adoption application is made and the road to adoption finalisation starts.
- Once the final adoption order is granted, the child then becomes your legal child of and treated as if he or she was born to biologically.
For any further information you can contact myself, Nicole Freese at socialwork@ithembalethu.org.za and book one of our “Introduction to the Adoption Process” sessions. Here, I will help navigate your next steps in this joyful, heart-warming, ecstatic yet exhausting, painful and makes you want to scream moments. Sounds a lot like child-birth does not it now? (wink emoji)
5. HOW DO I GO ABOUT DONATING BREASTMILK TO ITHEMBA LETHU?
Complete the Donor Screening Form, found HERE on our website, and email it to breastmilkbank@ithembalethu.org.za and Anni will be in contact with you and explain the process.
6. HOW LONG CAN I FREEZE MILK TO DONATE?
Up to 3 months after expressed date is suitable for prem babies and up to 6 months is suitable for term babies.
7. HOW MUCH MILK DO YOU ACCEPT?
We are grateful and will accept any quantity of milk that has been kept frozen and is within the expiry period.