Oeboentoe has for the past thirteen years
been offering a safe, loving shelter to neglected and traumatized children
between the ages of 0 and 13. The house parents, Cawood and Erica Kelbrick
and their four children form the framework around which several welfare
organizations and the Child Protection Units of the SAPS place children out
for undefined periods of time.

Here at
Oeboentoe, the children are not only physically cared for but also
spiritually and emotionally supported by the house parents, assisted by
several supporters that are involved on a regular basis. They are also
protected against further exposure to physical, sexual and emotional abuse
and neglect, until the Juvenile court's investigation is completed.
Oeboentoe House has given a home and care to approximately 145 children over
the past thirteen years, sometimes under very difficult circumstances.
Why the name Oeboentoe?
In the "Taalgenoot" of October 1998 Justice Tsungu's article entitled
"Oeboentoe" shed new light for us on the subject of safety care, humanity
and juvenile law.
It is also clear that the community has a responsibility to uplift and care
for families that have been tom apart due to trauma and other unsettling
circumstances, so that they can again adapt to society and live a normal
family life.
Cawood and Erica made themselves available and the children started
streaming in. They sometimes wondered how they would be able to help and
love all the children that ended up in their home. They realized that the
answer lay in more ways than one in "Oë -boontoe" (Eyes heavenwards).
Since then the family has not looked down.
At Oeboentoe House one experiences how love and acceptance can mend the
broken hearts of children. Their hearts are full of love. Your support,
whether through the delivery of services or skills of whatever kind, through
prayer or financial contributions, is vital to enable Oeboentoe House to
continue with its upliftment and development work in the community.