2009 Rotary Club Group Study Exchange

Hope House is a Children's home in Harrismith. It currently houses 27 orphaned and abandoned children. Most were at school when we arrived, but the little ones were there, and after initial shyness, were happy to get some attention from these strange foreign people. They love to have photos taken, and smiled their big irresistible smiles when Sarah picked them up.
Like most of the NGOs, Hope House receives very little government funding, and is supported by both regular and irregular donations. Rotary helps as much as it can, though this is one of many projects in the town. Though the children seem well looked after, they have very little in the way of toys, or games. Their bedrooms are austere, and the building is, by our standards, basic.
Despite this, the staff are dedicated and hard working, and do their best for the children, with the limited resources available.

For me, the visit was summed up by two words which were embroidered on one little boy's jumper - "But Why?"