Breaking the Silence: Home of Hope's Mission During 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children

As we mark the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the Sakhisizwe team, as part of Bush Radio's Push Forward 16 days campaign, took its microphones directly to an organisation making a profound difference in our community: Home of Hope. This year's theme, "Unite and Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls," reminds us that violence takes many forms, but today we're addressing a particularly devastating yet often invisible form of violence that begins before a child is even born.

The Hidden Violence: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

At Home of Hope, the staff witness firsthand the impact of abuse, neglect, and abandonment on society's most vulnerable members. Many children in their care carry not just the invisible scars of trauma, but also the permanent effects of FASD, a condition that represents violence inflicted even before birth.

The founding CEO of Home of Hope, Eleanor Brook, shares the organisation's origins: "It initially started as a place to try and find families for children, and then we discovered FASD, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and from there we have evolved into what we are today."

Understanding FASD: A Preventable Yet Incurable Condition

FASD is known as an invisible disability, affecting children whose mothers consumed alcohol during pregnancy. The condition causes permanent brain damage that impacts every aspect of a person's life. As Kayla Abel, the acting CEO, explains, the effects are far-reaching: "Secondary challenges include suicide, trouble with the law, addiction, substance abuse, work-related issues, and early dropouts from school."

What makes this particularly heartbreaking is that FASD is 100% preventable yet 100% incurable. Eleanor puts it bluntly: "Would you take a bottle of beer, put a teat on it and give it to your baby to drink? No, you wouldn't. So it's exactly the same thing prenatally."

FROM LEFT: Bush Radio presenters, Jasnine Roberts and Meeral Mansoor; CEO and Founder, Eleanor Brooke; Acting CEO, Kayla Abel; Principal Roxanne Naickee 

The women who give birth to children with FASD often come from environments marked by violence and poverty. These circumstances create conditions where substance abuse becomes a coping mechanism. Adding to the challenge is the fact that alcohol is legal and socially accepted in our country.

"Young people don't even know they're pregnant, they're partying, they're drinking," Eleanor notes. "I think it just needs to be a lot of awareness needs to go out, and we should be speaking to everybody about this challenge and problem."

The issue transcends economic boundaries. As the team at Home of Hope emphasizes, this affects families from all socioeconomic backgrounds, not just impoverished communities.

A Holistic Approach to Care

Home of Hope operates five distinct projects designed to support children and young adults with FASD throughout their lives:

1. The Children's Home

Providing 24/7 care for 25 children, the home operates on a family-centered model rather than institutional care. Each child receives individualized therapeutic services, love, and attention tailored to their specific needs and challenges.

2. Amatemba School

Led by Principal Roxanne N aickeeand Senior Teacher Landisa Sibanda, the school serves 33 learners, including 19 from informal settlements. The school provides not just education but also basic necessities like bathing facilities and meals, ensuring children are ready to learn.

"We've had children that were expelled from mainstream schools due to behaviour challenges from FASD," Kayla explains. "At the school, we ensure that we empower every single child with an education and equip them with skills for a brighter future."

3. The Working Care Farm

Recognizing that young adults with FASD cannot simply be released into society at 18, Home of Hope created a farm where they learn practical skills like building garden trellises and crafting items for sale.

4. Living Life Programme

This mentoring initiative prepares young adults for independence by teaching essential life skills: budgeting, creating CVs, using public transportation, and navigating healthcare systems.

5. The Charity Shop

Located at 215 Blouberg Road in Tableview, the shop serves multiple purposes: fundraising, skills training for young adults, and providing affordable goods to the community.

The Reality of Living with FASD

Caring for someone with FASD requires extraordinary patience and specific strategies. As Kayla describes, individuals with FASD are concrete learners who struggle with abstract concepts. A simple instruction like "take the bun out, wash it, and put it back" is overwhelming because it contains multiple steps.

"You'd have to have visuals," Kayla explains. "In our children's home, their chore chart has visual pictures showing their face, a clock, and what chore they'll be doing and when."

Perhaps most importantly, caregivers must understand that a young adult with FASD is typically functioning at half their chronological age emotionally and socially. An 18-year-old may have the emotional capacity of an 8 or 9-year-old.

Early Warning Signs

Teachers at Amatemba School are trained to recognize and preempt behavioral challenges. Roxanne shares their approach: "We do circle time where we look at the emotions of children and how they're feeling. If we see a child tapping or looking irritable, those are cues and triggers for us to use calming techniques."

This proactive approach helps prevent escalation and creates a supportive learning environment where children can thrive despite their challenges.

Breaking the Cycle: What We Can All Do

The team at Home of Hope emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in preventing FASD and supporting affected families:

Spread Awareness: Talk about FASD with friends, family, and in your social circles. Share information you've learned.

Speak Up Without Judgment: If you see a pregnant woman drinking, inform her about the risks with compassion, not condemnation.

Educate Yourself: Use available resources, including social media and online platforms, to research FASD and share accurate information.

Support Organizations: Donate to places like Home of Hope. Contact them at 021-556-3573 or visit their charity shop Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM, and Saturdays 9 AM to 2 PM.

Start Uncomfortable Conversations: Don't wait for family gatherings or social events to pass without discussing issues that truly matter.

A Call to Action

As Eleanor powerfully states: "I think the biggest tool we have is our mouth. It's word of mouth. You've learned a whole lot of things today. Start speaking. We really just need to start talking. We all need to take responsibility to stop ignoring it and actually start speaking."

During these 16 Days of Activism and beyond, let's commit to breaking the silence around FASD and all forms of violence against women and children. Every child deserves to be safe, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.

The work happening at Home of Hope demonstrates that with proper support, structure, and unconditional love, children and young adults with FASD can lead meaningful lives. But they shouldn't have to face these challenges in the first place. Prevention starts with awareness, and awareness starts with each of us.

For more information about Home of Hope or to contribute to their mission, contact them at 021-556-3573 or visit their charity shop at 215 Blouberg Road, Tableview.

Written By: Jasnine Roberts