The word “orphanage” quickly evokes certain images to our minds, and for the most part, these images are none too positive. We might be able to chalk this up to seeing one too many Shirley Temple movies — because, obviously, all orphanages cannot possibly be so horrific and run by people who should clearly be nowhere near children of any background. In some parts of the world, though, those stark and unwelcoming images are a reality.

Thankfully, there are organizations such as Ukuthemba in South Africa that are making a change for the better. According to their website, “The number of children with no parents in the Eastern Cape doubled between 2007 and 2012. Even with the abundance of orphans, there are less than 2,000 adoptions per year in all of South Africa.”

President and Founder of South African Orphan Care, Roxie Shore, said, “After living in South Africa I saw with my own eyes the number of children abandoned on the streets or left at hospitals. Some lose their parent(s) to death, [while] others are just unwanted.”

Because of the vast number of orphans in the country, orphanages themselves tend to be quite large and nearly unmanageable. This often causes children to face more neglect and abuse, resulting in orphanages causing harm rather than actually helping children.

Instead of continuing this cycle, Ukuthemba focuses on creating small nuclear families with 6 children and a foster parent. This gives the children a sense of home and familiarity, allowing them to feel like an actual person instead of just another number. Ukuthemba has been able to partner with Hope Prep School in order to ensure the children are continuing their education. The school has already been built on the property.

Volunteer Nicolette Young had this to say about her Ukuthemba experience:

“I have a special love for children, and I think that working with children is one of my spiritual gifts. But I actually got to see South Africa first-hand last year, and that was a huge eye-opener. I got to stand where they were going to build the first house for Ukuthemba. And I got to go in the school that the children of Ukuthemba will attend. I got to love on the orphans in South Africa, and that made it so much more real to me.”

There are a number of ways to contribute to the organization, including taking part in fundraisers and events, buying merchandise, and, of course, making donations. Like most foundations, simply raising awareness to the cause can do amazing things.

Shore said, “We aren’t officially up and running due to a lack of funding right now, but because of the foundation, I have seen that many are unaware of the orphan crisis plaguing this world. Many want to help but don’t know how, and children are now finding forever families through Ukuthemba. Just last year we took a team over from the States, and now two orphans are being adopted by families who were a part of the team!”

“Ukuthemba” is a word from the Xhosa language that means “to believe, trust, hope, and expect.” This foundation is giving orphaned children the opportunity to believe, hope, expect, and trust when they would otherwise have every reason to doubt. The lives of these children have been and will continue to be changed — all thanks to the selfless acts of others.