Three years ago, Daybreak House opened its doors for the first time.
We had a house, a calling, and a deep conviction that vulnerable babies in Pretoria deserved a safe and loving place to land. What we could not have fully anticipated was the village that would gather around us. The people who would show up, week after week, from next door and from the other side of the world, and make this work possible.
As we mark three years, we want to say thank you. Not in a general, catch-all way, but specifically and honestly, to the people who have walked this road with us.
From the Other Side of the World
We have been humbled, more than once, by the people who did not let distance stop them.
Beth travelled all the way from the United Kingdom to spend two intensive weeks at Daybreak House. She cared for our babies with her whole self, and left a mark on this place that we still feel.
Greetje came from Belgium and stayed for two full months. She gave up the comfort of her own home to sleep in a small room and spend every single day making life brighter for our children. She was never too tired to read a story, play a game, or wash another mountain of baby bottles. Her presence was a gift we did not deserve and will never forget.
Over the past three years we have welcomed volunteers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Australia. Their love knew no borders then and still does not. Many of them have since moved on to the next chapter of their lives, but they stay in touch. That means more than they know.
Athletes Who Ran, Swam, and Cycled for Our Babies
We are still moved when we think about the people who pushed their bodies to the limit for Daybreak House.
Swimmers braved the waters of the Midmar Mile on our behalf. Cyclists rode through the streets of Johannesburg in the Virgin Active Ride Joburg, carrying our name with them. And then there are the runners, extraordinary, determined people, who tackled the Comrades Marathon to raise funds for the babies in our care.
There are no words adequate for that kind of dedication. We are simply grateful.
Children Helping Children
Generosity has no age limit.
We have been deeply moved by the learners who put their hearts into raising money and collecting donations for Daybreak House. Watching young people work hard for babies they may never meet is a reminder that the next generation is paying attention, and choosing to act.
To every school and every learner who has been part of our story, including those from AHMP, PHSG Laerskool Pretoria Oos, Laerskool Tygerpoort, Laerskool Die Krans, and Laerskool Menlopark: thank you. You are already changing the world, and you do not even realise it yet.
The Ones Who Come Every Week
Some of our most treasured volunteers are the ones who simply keep showing up.
They do not come to help out. They come because they love these children. When one of our little ones has a birthday, they bake, they decorate, they bring gifts, and they make sure every child knows they are worth celebrating. At Christmas, they arrive with gifts for the children and treats for our caregivers, because they understand that the people pouring themselves out for these babies also need to feel seen and valued.
This kind of consistent, faithful presence is impossible to quantify. But it is the heartbeat of Daybreak House.
A Special Word for Pretoria Boys High School
We could not write a tribute to our volunteers without giving a proper mention to the prefects of Pretoria Boys High School.
These young men have been with us from the start. They visit regularly, push prams, get down on the floor with the children, and invest their time in ways that matter. They remember our babies’ birthdays. Every Women’s Day they arrive to spoil and honour our caregivers, because they understand that this work is carried by remarkable women who deserve to be celebrated.
We have written more fully about PBHS elsewhere in this journal, because their story deserves its own space. But in any list of the people who have made Daybreak House what it is, their names belong near the top.
Three Years, One Village
Whether you have swum a mile, run a marathon, cycled a race, baked a cake, washed a single bottle, or spent hours rocking a baby to sleep: you are part of this three-year milestone.
Daybreak House is not built on the strength of a few. It is built on the faithfulness of many. You are the hands and feet of this work, and we are grateful for every single one of you.
If you would like to join the village, visit our Volunteer page to find out how you can get involved.
Daybreak House for Vulnerable Babies is a registered Place of Safety operating in Pretoria under the Grové Schoombee Foundation NPC (PBO 930076658). To support the children in our care, visit our Donate page or browse our Wish List.
