 THE orphaned and
abandoned babies at iKhaya LikaBaba - House of the Father now have a new
‘mother’.
Wendy Oxley will
be taking over from Melanie Grant as coordinator, as of August this
year. Having been
involved with iKhaya LikaBaba as a volunteer from the beginning and carrying a
heart for orphans and abandoned babies, Wendy is well equipped to run the babies
home. Also a qualified
nurse and mother of three, Wendy is no stranger to the care of
infants. But more
importantly, she views her new position as a calling from God rather then a
job. ‘I know without a
doubt that God has placed this passion for iKhaya LikaBaba in my heart’, said
Wendy.
As coordinator
Wendy will oversee the needs of the children, the staff and the
volunteers. While also
keeping the local and national public up to date on the progress of the
home. Wendy currently
works at The Stork Nest at the Bay Hospital. Previously she
worked in Pediatrics in Greys Hospital Pietermaritzburg and in the neo-natal ICU
at Empangeni G C. In her spare time
she has always found time for orphans, fostering a child in
1997. Her compassion
for orphans has brought her to volunteer at Ngwelezana Hospital’s Place of
Safety, Musawenkosi children's home and iKhaya
LikaBaba.
"‘I am thrilled
and confident in her ability to take this organisation to the next
level.‘This next season
promises to be one in which the babies’ home flourishes under Wendy’s guidance,
the strength of a management team who are fully committed to every aspect of
this project and dedicated staff who ensure the efficient running of the home. ‘I am looking
forward to hearing about all their victories and successes’, said
Melanie.
Looking
back
Speaking about
her time with iKhaya LikaBaba, Melanie says that it has been a rewarding and
fulfilling three year season. Melanie and her
husband Sean pioneered the home for orphaned and abandoned children in their own
home in December 2007. Today it is a
registered NPO and established home with its own premises (located between
Empangeni and Felixton on the R102). "‘It has been a
privilege to be a part of these children's lives. ‘Our family would
like to express our gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has supported
us. ‘We will be very
sad to say good bye, especially to the Thandaza Covenant church which has played
a pioneering role in establishing iKhaya LikaBaba.’
The Grant family
is relocating to Cape Town due to Sean’s work. They plan to
continue to work with orphans and abandoned children there – facilitating the
establishment of more babies homes like iKhaya
LikaBaba and are in the process of setting up an international orphan network (ION) which allow them to impact and mentor other non profit organisation.
Excerpt from the Zululand Observer written by Lesley Stephenson
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