John 13 v 34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”

iKhaya LikaBaba Preschool Outing

What a full day…Horse riding, a picnic, playing with baby goats and running about getting plenty fresh air at R & B Ranch. Our youngsters love to go in the car let alone to the farm! They had the time of their lives. Thanks again Robyn for opening up your “home” to our Grade RRR and RR class and for allowing our kids the chance to experience such excursions. We love to give them the opportunity to mingle with animals and we especially love to watch some overcome their fear of animals too. Omega used to be utterly petrified of any moving creature and has slowly over time overcome this fear and he was delighted to enjoy his first horse ride “fearlessly”. We are proud of you Omega!

Baking up a storm!

Oluhle was the proud Grade R Baker for Baker Day at school. We encourage the kids to be involved in making treats for their day. This gives them a sense of achievement, responsibility and an opportunity to learn some culinary skills. Look at how colourful and delicious her cakes turned out. Well done Oli!

Perfect Beach Weather

Sarah and Jenny, our German volunteers, took our older school kids, and House Mom Ellen, for some fun, sun, and sea. This is always a hit for our kids!

Play Time is Fun Time…

Kids learn and mature in self-esteem with attention and lots of stimulation. Playing with adult involvement is a great way for kids to gain self-confidence and to develop social skills. Physical exercise builds core strength for good posture at school and the interaction with their playmates teaches them to share, help one another while learning good social and problem-solving skills. Who said learning can’t be fun?

Hluhluwe Game Reserve Visit

It was with great excitement and much anticipation that the German volunteers visited our local Game Park this month. To see wild animals roaming free as opposed to in a zoo was a refreshing experience for them. The weather was cool so we were privileged to see many zebra, giraffe, elephant, rhino, impala, warthog, buffalo, wildebeest and various bird life throughout the day.  

Save the Rhino Walk

St Catherine’s School in Empangeni holds an annual fund-raiser in support of saving our rhinos. Add a touch of colour and everyone has a blast! A few of our school kids enjoyed the event again this year along with Jenny and Sarah.

We Have Taken Occupation

Our new home, iKhaya 4, has turned out so beautifully and has been furnished mostly with the donations from our faithful supporters and community who have caught the heart of what we do to raise the kiddies in our care. The children absolutely love their new bedrooms and home and have settled in well.

Thanks to everyone who made this project a reality for us. From work parties to clear trees, throw the floor slab and painting the entire home to builders and contractors going the extra mile, we stand in awe at how this project flowed smoothly and turned out so well. We love and appreciate you all.

I can truly say I am blessed to be a part of God’s work in this place and to witness His daily provision.

Furniture and appliances needed at iKhaya 

Your used, in good condition household items, that you may be ready to part with, will be most useful and welcome in our homes. 

We currently have the need for the following:

• Fridge
• 8 Seater Dining Room set 
• Freezer
• Chest of Drawers 
• Bookshelf
• Washing Machine
• 4 Single Bed Mattresses
• Double Bed
• Crockery and Cutlery
• Plastic Ware 

If you are able to assist with any of these items please contact me on 035-7911116 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Market Day at Solid Ground Church

iKhaya is a mission birthed out of the Solid Ground Church and is run and supported by both church leaders and members. Solid Ground held a very successful Market Day with proceeds going towards iKhaya. Thank you to the many visitors, stall holders and organisers who joined us on this day. Not only were we blessed with a sunny day but loads of great food and plenty activity to occupy the young and old alike.

Thank you for taking the time to read our news and stay in contact with us. For more info on our home and what we do or how you can partner with us please contact me by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , by telephone on 035-791 1116 or by visiting our website http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ikhayalikababa/

Please share our news with your family and friends and ask them to like our Facebook Page to stay abreast of our news.

Newsletter October 2016

John 15 v 12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Sarah and Jenny from Germany

We welcomed Sarah and Jenny to iKhaya on 4 September. They have joined us on a volunteer program through APCM Volunteer Services in Germany and will be with us until July 2017. They have thoroughly enjoyed their first month here and have taken no time at all to settle in and make local friends through our Church, Solid Ground. May your stay be a happy one with plenty great memories and loads of personal growth.

Mini Miss RSA 2016 Finalist

Mini Miss RSA 2016 FinalistShreya Chetty and her family visited us this month to play with and entertain the kids and treat them to lunch and party goodies. Thanks for the spoils and we wish you all the best in the competition.

iKhaya 4 Final Touches

We are almost ready to take occupation. The house is looking fabulous. The kitchen and built-in wardrobes are complete and looking so professional and chic. We are so grateful to everyone for the donations towards the linen and furniture we have received so far. Thank you for your support! Sarah and Jenny have almost completed painting the kids rooms with a touch of colour and art on the walls. I just know the kids will be thrilled with their new bedrooms. All we still require in terms of furniture and appliances is: Fridge 8 Seater Dining Room set Freezer Chest of Drawers Crockery and Cutlery Plastic Ware If you are able to assist with any of these items please contact me on 035-7911116 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Jordan’s Big Day!

Melkom and Nishi are adopting Jordan and chose to share and celebrate his 1st birthday with us. Nishi is my assistant at iKhaya and has a capacity to love like no other. She agreed to temporarily foster Jordan in December 2015 pending space for him at iKhaya, which was to become available in just 2-3 weeks. To cut a long story short, Mel and Nishi fell in love with this little might and decided to adopt him rather than place him with us. Thank you to Emric Motors, Empangeni for joining us with party packs and a jumping castle. The kids had a blast jumping and we look forward to many more happy times with you all. Happy birthday precious boy!

Nothando turned 2!

Thank you BWA Zululand and sponsors for making our children’s birthdays meaningful and for making them feel loved, wanted and special! The sheer joy and delight on Thando’s face when receiving her Teddy Bear is an expression of how you have reached out and touched her heart! We are blessed to partner with you.

Play, play, play…

iKhaya kids are always busy with either planned activities or free play which fills our home with plenty laughter and happy noise. Learning through play is how children learn to make sense of the world around them. Through play children can develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments.

Visit to the Fire Station

Our school kids went with Solid Ground Children’s Church to the Empangeni Fire Station to spoil, honour and pray for the firemen who serve our community. Needless to say the kids had a delightful time testing out the fire hose and playing in the foam.

Thank you to each and every one of you for partnering with us in prayer, financial support, volunteering and so on. We love it when the community catches the heart of our work and chooses to join us in making a difference.

For more info on our home and what we do or how you can partner with us please contact me by visiting our website http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ikhayalikababa/.

Please share our news with your family and friends and ask them to like our Facebook Page to keep in touch and informed.

With much love Loressa and Team

Jeremiah 29 v 11: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

iKhaya 4 Building Progress

The floors are all tiled and the bathrooms too. Must say they are looking rather fabulous! We held a painting party on 13 August to paint the house in and out. What a marvelous team we had who painted the home in record time. Now that the palisade fencing is up the place is looking more and more like home. Even the kids excitement is tangible. They love to pop up to see our progress.

Learning Through Fun!

Isnt it amazing just how much fun a cardboard box can be for a kid. There are many activities one can do to entertain children with boxes. I have fond memories from my childhood doing just what these mites are up to here… sliding down a small grassy incline and having an absolute blast! Len, mKhulu, lovingly made us these awesome brightly coloured ball runs for our preschool. The delightful screaches were tesimony enough that the equipment will be well worth your loving efforts! Thanks Len, we appreciate you. Our preschoolers have many fun filled days in our newly established ECD class. Thanks Bronwyn for the investment you make through education in the lives of these youngsters.

Business Community Support

Thank you for catching the heart of what we are doing at iKhaya. It warms my heart when folk visit and are touched by what it is we are striving to achieve at iKhaya. With your support and that of the many others in our community we are able to make the changes these young children so desperately crave and deserve. I would like to thank ETT, Sholoza Engineering, RBCH, Action Blast, Bidvest Steiner, Power Spar, 5 Ways Spar, Woolworths, Cambridge Foods, Zululand Canvas, Medipark Pharmacy, Dr Greeff and Naude, D&G Motors, HiQ Empangeni, Bay City Bakeries and BWA for your SQS Rigging visited iKhaya continued support throughout the year.

Vegetable Garden Restoration

We are most fortunate to have a shade clothed vegetable garden on our property. Sadly I don’t have the gift of green fingers and have longed for someone to take ownership of this project for us. This month we received a call from a young member of our local community who has a passion to grow veggies and asked if he could take on the challenge of restoring our garden. He took no time at all to clear the garden of weeds and plant his first crop of lettuce, cabbage and spinach.

Melanie and Shaun Grant

God can use each and every one of us to further His kingdom; all it takes is us being obedient and willing to be His hands and feet in response to His call. This amazing family is testimony to just this. iKhaya LikaBaba was founded in 2007 by the Grants who heard a call on their lives and responded well. Thank you for your vision, heart and love that brought iKhaya into fruition. What a treat it was for me personally to meet you in person. Thank you for taking the time to visit us while you travelled in SA. May God continue to richly bless you as you do His work in China.

Grocery Donations

We are totally blessed! We receive ongoing support from local stores with goods that are nearing expiry date or with damaged packaging etc. The food and other items are all still perfectly usable and save us tremendous amounts every month on our grocery bill. Thank you Cambridge Foods, Power Spar and Woolworths for your generosity.

Birthday Blessings

Samuke and Thabiso celebrated their special days this month. The ladies of our local BWA have such a passion for our kiddies and the community and we are blessed to be supported by them.

Our kids are utterly overjoyed to be made the centre of attention and made to feel special on their birthdays. Thank you Zululand BWA for your love and care!

Day to Day…

iKhaya is always a buzz of activity with much laughter and loads of love. There are days of challenges too no doubt but we cherish the privilege of being a daily part of the lives of these young kids who crave love and attention and a sense of belonging. You too can be a part of what we do… to find your niche please contact me by visiting our website http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ikhayalikababa/.
With much love Loressa and Team

James 1 : 27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” 

AWOL (A Work Of Love) 

AWOL 2016 was another successful Christian teen camp help in Empangeni. Teens camped at Saint Catherine’s School and went out on two of the 4 days doing community outreaches. The lives of the teens are forever changed as they reach out in love and kindness to those less fortunate than themselves. iKhaya hosted a group of teens who painted our perimeter fence pillar and spent time interacting with the kids too. Our kids love having visitors and the attention so this was a good time for us too! 

Farewell 

Sunday 17 July was a day filled with many emotions. We bid farewell to two young ladies who we grew to love over the last 10 months at iKhaya and Solid Ground Church. They volunteered at iKhaya, loved our children, left their mark in all our lives and grew a part of our church family. The most amazing part of this special day was that we had the privilidge of witnessing and sharing in their baptism. Such a significant occasion in their Christian walk and highlight of their stay in SA. We will miss you Pauline and Sarah. Farewell, until we meet again. May God be your centre as you return home and live out your passion and calling in Him. 

Mandela Day 

In South Africa in commemoration of Mandela we celebrate his birthday on 18 July. We were blessed with visitors from GAC Shipping, Air Products, Mvula Trust and Legal Wise who generously blessed our home with groceries, cleaning agents, treats for the kids and blankets. Our windows and floors were cleaned and the kids enjoyed a colouring competition at the new preschool. All this to celebrate Mandela Day with us. 

Our Very Own Preschool! 

Term three kicked off with a huge bang! We launched our own preschool for our six Grade RRR and RR kids. We are delighted to have been blessed with the use of the Solid Ground Kids Church Facilities and Bronwyn Mathias has joined our team as the teacher. The aged 3-4 year old kids were looking forward to this day for a while and on the morning of their first day of school ever there was absolute chaos in the home as the kids were beside themselves with excitement and anticipation. They are loving being “big enough” for school and take great pride in saying they now go to school. It’s been two weeks now so they are settling into the routine and we can see their progress. 

Grade R Sleepover 

Our 3 grade R poppets were absolutely overjoyed at the prospect of sleeping over at school! Annually the preschool teachers at the Empangeni Christian School pluck up the courage to hold a sleep over at school. Their nerves must be shattered by the time we collect the kids in the morning! But I know without a doubt that this is a day these kids will treasure for many years to come. Their smiles say it better than I could explain in words! 

It’s raining, it’s pouring… 

The sound of the rain on 25 July 2016 was sheer pleasure to our ears. How we need the rain and have prayed for it during this season of drought. Take a look at the huge volumes we received. Our playground was flooded and driveways almost washed away! 

Dance Academy Presents Showcase 2016 

We had 6 school going kids take part in the Showcase on 27 July. There has been loads of effort and practice going into the dance routines by all the dancers and teachers. Thanks for another successful show Kim and team! 

The Prep Work The Big Day 

iKhaya 4 Building Project 

Our new home is taking shape and is looking fabulous! The roof is on, ceilings in, plumbing nearing completion and floors and bathrooms are currently being tiled. Join us as we prayerfully stand in faith for the provision of the new house parents and the registration of our home to accommodate an extra 5 kiddies. 

Join us on 13 August 2016 at 06h30 to paint the new home and be a part of the changes we are making in the lives of the children in our care. 

We have put together a needs list and should you wish to contribute materially to the furnishings of the new home please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 035-791 1116. Good secondhand and new items will be gratefully received. We’d love to hear from you. Thank you in advance for your support. 

School Holiday Program 

School holidays mean more kids at home and without stimulation kids get up to mischief. So we plan many great activities to occupy little hands and minds which results in loads of fun for all. Activities included arts and crafts, walks, bike riding, the farm, horse riding, baking, face painting, sports and many other outdoor games and fun. Take a look at some of what we got up to these holidays… 

To everyone who plays a part our lives, be it your prayers, advice, time, volunteering, donation of groceries and material goods, we want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love and appreciate you all. 

Please visit our website at http://www.ikhayalikababa.co.za to learn more about us and how you can get involved to support the children in our care. 

If you have not yet done so please follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ikhayalikababa/ and share the page with your family and friends too. 

With love 

Loressa and the iKhaya family