About Us

The St. Laurence’s Children’s Haven was founded in January 2002 under the auspices of the Roodepoort Child and Family Welfare Society.

It was the dream of a group of life-long friends, who grew up in the area and who have managed to keep the Haven going for these years.

The Haven is a place of safety for abused and abandoned boys and girls in the area of all races, creeds and aged between 6 months and 18. We look after between 28 and 35 children at any one time (+/- 28 on a full time basis) and last year provided care for a total of 63 children. Some stay with us for as short a period as a couple of months, whilst others have been with us for over 10 years.

The children at the Haven experience love and care in a secure and warm environment. They receive 3 cooked meals a day, bath or shower daily, attend local schools and are supervised by trained house parents who are approved by Child and Family Welfare.

For many of the children this is first in their young lives. Under these conditions, very soon the pain and trauma they have suffered passes and they adapt to becoming young, healthy, caring and balanced children.

Administration and fundraising is undertaken on a completely voluntary basis and all money raised goes directly to the children. There are no hidden admin fees or such like which is so often the case.

We do not receive subsidies of any kind and rely entirely on several fundraising events throughout the year as well as the generosity of the community we operate in.

The St. Laurence’s Children’s Haven is a registered public benefit organization, and in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act all donations are exempt from income tax.

Our Audited Financial Statements and NPO and PBO details are available for inspection.
We would be very happy for you to visit us to witness firsthand what we do and to see how happy the children are.

Our Vision
To see our children become young, healthy, caring balanced children. To assist school leavers with study programmes and employment, and go on to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Our Mission
To offer abused, neglected and abandoned children love and care in a secure and warm environment. The children at St Laurence receive cooked meals, counselling, education and clothing, for many, this is a first in their young lives. The pain and trauma of their past soon eases as they adapt to their new destiny.

Our Administration

Administration and fundraising is undertaken on a completely voluntary basis and ALL money raised goes directly to the children. There are no hidden admin fees or such like which is so often the case.

Tax Benefits
We do not receive subsidies of any kind and rely entirely on several fundraising events throughout the year, as well as the generosity of the community. The St Laurence’s Children’s Haven is a registered public benefit organization, and all donations are tax deductible from taxable earnings under Section 18A of the Income Tax Act.