Dear Volunteers,

We ask for your support, regarding our new initiative: Hamba Nawe, a paediatric palliative care program.

“Hamba Nawe” – “We Walk with You,” and that is our aim.

Paediatric palliative care is a holistic approach to caring for children and their families facing chronic, life-limiting illnesses. The needs of children are unique and different from those of adults. The Hamba Nawe initiative aims to address the urgent needs of paediatric patients with life-threatening conditions through comprehensive, interdisciplinary, family-centred care within the Hamba Nawe unit.

Families caring for a child with a life-threatening illness face immense emotional stress, practical caregiving responsibilities, disruptions in daily life, financial burdens, and difficulties navigating healthcare systems.

To support these families, we are creating care bags filled with essential items. We are asking for donations of the following items:

• Woolies bags: Please donate any extra Woolies bags you may have.
• Children’s books and Bibles: These items can provide comfort and make memories for terminal sick children families.
• Toiletries: We need soap, toothbrushes, face cloths, and cream for sore bodies.
• Small, fluffy blankets: These can provide warmth and comfort.
• Dry food: Two-minute noodles or soups are easy to prepare and provide nourishment.

Donations can be picked up or dropped off at Daybreak House with a clear sticker labeled “Hamba Nawe.”

We also need support with the following:

• Travel/Transport Fund – Many families struggle to bring their children to and from the hospital for essential care. This fund helps cover transport costs, ensuring that children receiving palliative care are not denied access to treatment, follow-ups, or family visits due to financial constraints.
• Bereavement and Burial Support – Losing a child is an unimaginable heartbreak, and many families cannot afford funeral expenses. This fund provides financial relief to grieving families, helping them honour their child’s memory with dignity and peace of mind.
• Memory Boxes – We help families create lasting memories of their children by providing personalised memory boxes. These contain handprints, photos, and cherished keepsakes, offering comfort and a tangible way to remember their child’s life and love.
• Toiletries – Many families arrive at the hospital with little more than the clothes they are wearing. Donations help us provide essential toiletries such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary products, and nappies, ensuring that children and caregivers can maintain basic hygiene and dignity during their stay.
• Food Parcels – A hospital stay can place significant financial strain on families, often leaving caregivers unable to earn income and afford food. Our food parcels support families in need, providing nourishment during hospital visits and at home, so they can focus on their child’s care without the added worry of hunger.

Imagine having a child with a life-threatening illness and not having financial means to travel and speak to the doctor or see your child.

Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of these children and their families. Thank you.