eSimphiwe
"Gift from God"

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This is a wonderful small transition home in Durban, South Africa. Daphne and Peter Banks, the founders started as foster parents for abandoned babies in Durban in 2003. After seeing the great need for loving transitional homes for the orphaned and abandoned babies in Durban they went on to open eSimphiwe. Originally run out of their own home. Now, though they have another home just down the street from their home where they provide love and care for 6 babies at a time where they have 24 hour staff. Children are placed with them from multiple child placing agencies. They are able to keep children from infants to toddlers and have the ability to care for premature and high risk babies. They take children regardless of their HIV status and provide them with the care and love they need until a permanent home is found for the children. Many of eSimphiwe’s children have been adopted internationally and domestically. The children at eSimphiwe receive the best of care. When adoptive families adopt a child from eSimphiwe and they do not live in the Durban area they are welcome to stay in the visitor’s cottage on eSimphiwe’s property. This special arrangement allows families to start bonding with their new child immediately while providing the child with a sense of security while they are in their familiar surrounding. This provides a special time also for the new parents to learn first hand the schedule and care taking style in which their child has been raised. Another benefit to this arrangement is adoptive families can pay for room and board at the cottage (with the money then going to the upkeep of eSimphiwe) instead of paying money to a hotel. Although individuals can not sponsor a baby at eSimphiwe they eSimphiwe has an adopt a cot program where organizations or individuals can adopt one or part of one of the 6 cribs that they have. At the end of a 6 month time period sponsors receive an update on the children that have been in those cribs.

Individuals interested in volunteering at a small baby’s home that cares for AIDS orphans will find themselves welcome here. There is a spare room in eSimphiwe for volunteers to stay. It is requested that volunteers commit to at least a 3 months stay and that they be Christian. Volunteers will pay a stipend each month to cover their room and board. eSimphiwe is located in an upscale, safe area of Durban. Daphne’s philosophy is her children are not second rate citizens and therefore there is no reason that they should have to live in a transitional home in the poorer areas of the town. There is no age restriction or gender requirement for volunteers. If you are just out of school or are looking at volunteering on your own, this would be a good placement. Here you will be living in a family structure, be within walking distance of many tourist areas including the Beach, and have the opportunity if you desire to assist in other outreach work in the community.

Side note: This is a model of care that could be repeated in other homes and which may be very beneficial in countries like Kenya, where adoptive families must stay in country with their adopted children for 3+ months.

Daphne Banks is also involved in other outreach services in the community. She is working on establishing a sponsorship program for children in the slums to be able to attend school. Blessing, an 11 year old orphan is one of the first children she is working with. His younger brother and himself are AIDS orphans living with extended relatives in the slums in Valley of 1000 Hills. His relatives are barely able to provide food and clothing for them let alone pay for the HIV medications and schooling that the children need. At this time Daphne is still collecting donations in order to send Blessing to a boarding school in South Africa where he will get the education, food and medical care he so desperately desires. There are many more children like Blessing in need. If you are interested in sponsoring an AIDS Orphan in need please contact Daphne Banks. If you wish to sponsor a child in need to attend school and receive basic care eSimphiwe will receive the donations and be sure the funds go to service the child in need. You can receive updates and information on the child you are sponsoring.