A haven for homeless young ones
Mojapelo’s calling is to educate, care
The passion to create a safe home and provide quality education for indigent children drove Anna Mojapelo to quit her job.
The former prosecutor left her job at the National Prosecuting Authority in 1992 to start the New Jerusalem Children’s Home in President Park, Midrand.
Mojapelo, 56, together with her social worker sister Phina, 58, established the home for abandoned, abused and orphaned children. It has sheltered more than 1 000 children since its inception in 2000.
Mojapelo said her three-year tenure as a prosecutor showed her ways to change the lives of streets kids rather than to prosecute them.
“Our aim is to create a future for these children. Thus, all developments at New Jerusalem Children’s Home revolve around the children’s education and the protection of the environment they live in. In ensuring that happens, we provide residential care, social work services, Montessori Early Childhood Development lessons and a variety of events for the holistic development of the children in our care,” she said.
The home currently accommodates 80 children up to age 12 from areas including Ivory Park, Dieplsoot, Springs, Tembisa and Midrand.
Mojapelo said the first seven years were very difficult as the country was faced with a growing HIV epidemic.
“We started with a single child and before we knew it we had eight children. However, we struggled to get sponsors on board because HIV/Aids was regarded as a ‘monster’.
“Two of the children we took in when we started have since matriculated. Unfortunately we are aware that one matriculant needs funds to do a diploma in fashion design,” she said.
Mojapelo said her legal background and her sister’s social work experience enabled them to champion children’s needs.
“We faced challenges but we found solace in the fact that one day these abandoned children will become our future leaders, teachers, doctors and business people.”
The home receives R2500 per child every month from the Gauteng department of social development.
“It is not enough because we spent R4 500 a month on a child. The department has been very helpful financially and also giving us advice on how to run a successful home.
“As a home we have decided to grow vegetables and operate a bakery and sell the products to nearby communities and spaza shops in order to cover other expenses.”
She employs 13 people to help run the centre.
She highlighted how the Montessori schooling model was working for the abused children.
“One thing about the children is that you need to introduce them to something interesting. The education model has proven that it offers children opportunities to develop their potential early in life, as they step out into the world as engaged, competent, responsible and respectful people.
“Next year in January we will be launching the schooling model in Soweto with the aim to create future innovators and thinkers. This will be open to the public,” she said.
Mojapelo said children were being housed in a converted garage while a 14-roomed dormitory was under construction. We need help to finish the dormitory. We are financially struggling and we don’t want to throw the children out to the streets,” she said.
Our aim is to create the country’s future innovators and thinkers... Anna Mojapelo FOUNDER OF NEW JERUSALEM CHILDREN’S HOME