The power of volunteers

We honour Michael and Margaret Cowley from the UK - who bring extra love to our children every year (see Emily’s story) - and more recently Dean Gray - who quickly became part of our family whilst visiting Cape Town this past April.

Having previously done the tourist route - Dean (an ICU nurse by profession) wanted to put more substance into the unexpected month in Cape Town that he found himself enjoying. He chose to volunteer at Nazareth House as he especially wanted to work with children.

The timing was perfect as it included the Easter holidays when the children need activities to keep them busy. Here’s a little of what Dean shared with us at the end of his stay:

• Being greeted at the gate every morning when I’d get a gleeful and excited hello hug.
• Taking the kids shopping for ingredients for one of their cooking activities – how they made a fun game of it all.
• How they would break out into dance when they heard a song they loved on the radio; and sing funny little songs when we travelled in the car.
• Teaching them something new and getting them to remember it.
• Realising that these kids – who’ve all started off on the back foot in life and every day face a host of disadvantages – have a real home in Nazareth House ... and that it’s donors like you who make this loving home possible.