Mother Of Peace - Background

Gavin & Linda established the organisation in March 2001 started to look around for a suitable property that would be able to support their vision and through an amazing sequence of events they acquired on old Illovo Sugar Company's cottages and hostel, which had been closed up for several years. Over the next two years with negotiations were in place and organization 'Community Care Centres' was persuaded to buy the property and lease it to Mother of Peace on a 25 year lease. Eventually in 2003, Gavin & Linda took occupation.

The property had originally been occupied by cane cutters and sugar mill workers but had been empty for about 8 years at this stage and was totally overgrown and in need of much attention an renovation work to make it habitable.

The community is structured in a way that tries to reproduce family life as much as possible. There are 41 small cottages in the compound, some house volunteers, some are to be used as offices etc., and others house the children. The initial plan was to house six children, a housemother and a carer, in each of the cottages. They live and function as a family unit the mother becomes their mother and is responsible for the cooking cleaning, homework and everything else that happens in a normal household. The long term plan is to house up to 120 children without it becoming institutional. The community currently house 60 children pluse house mothers and carers.

The running costs are kept as low as possible with a number of community members functioning as management volunteers (unpaid) who are doing this type of work as a calling or vocation, so all the donations received go directly to the support of the family homes and children. No monies are deducted for 'management' or any other expenses.

There is also a large building also on the site and it is hoped to upgrade this and use it as a day care centre to help the vulnerable children from the surrounding areas. It is hoped also to house some of the other voluntary organisations such as counselling services, to help the children to recover from their earlier traumas. One of these organisations rescues and reintegrates sexually and physically abused children and have already placed children at Mother of Peace. This will add to the overall vision of the community.

The first full time child to be accommodated arrived in March 2004 and his name was Naduduzo

MOTHER OF PEACE - CODE OF CONDUCT:

• 1. At all times receive members of the community, without preference to race, gender, religion, etc.
• 2. Maintain a high level of integrity in all participation members
• 3. Provide a peaceful family orientated environment
• 4. Refrain from imposing any religion or code of ethics on any member of the community seeking help.
• 5. Perform all necessary functions of a Community Care Centre with consultation and regard to legal, professional or other organisational limitations.
• 6. Ensure that participating members of the CCC do not benefit unfairly from the resources of the CCC in any way.
• 7. Ensure that the assets and resources of the CCC are responsibly utilised.
• 8. Practice all activities with strict confidentiality