Houses of Hope, Cape Town

Ubomi means life in Xhosa. It is only one of many words that can be translated as “life“. However, life in South Africa’s townships is anything but easy. In Khayelitsha and Gugulethu – as in almost all townships – poverty, unemployment and a lack of prospects prevail. It is the children who suffer the most, and there can be no question of equal opportunities. Many children lack basic necessities such as food, places to sleep, health care and education. They are almost always left to their own devices and spend their time on the streets, where they are exposed to the dangers of drugs and gangs. They are often orphaned and left to fend for themselves. In the Ubomi houses, the children receive not only family warmth but also a warm and healthy meal, educational opportunities, homework support and language lessons, life skills training as well as games, sports and creative activities – and a chance at (over)life.  

Ubomi’s primary target group are the neglected (street) children in the townships of Cape Town. Another target group of Ubomi are the communities in the townships of Cape Town – they shall be supported and developed. The integration of Ubomi into the township communities is an important factor for success – both in the planning and in the operation of our Ubomi houses: The aim is to train the local people according to their competences and to involve them in the work.  

Ubomi houses create offers for the children who need it most – warm and healthy food as well as educational and developmental offers that support and strengthen them. It is about promoting individuality, strengthening self-esteem and having fun. A very important goal is to make the children fit for the future through the Ubomi houses. For this reason, the most important subjects such as mathematics and English are taught in the houses. In order to get even more children and young people in the townships off the streets, more Ubomi houses are needed. With the support of help alliance, costs for one of the houses will be subsidized. This would allow for an additional 30 to 40 children who desperately need the support. Because of the Corona pandemic, there are many orphaned and neglected children who are urgently waiting for a place at Ubomi.  

Your donation makes it possible to give children and youth from the townships of Cape Town a safe place that supports them in many ways to live a life free of poverty and violence.