7TH Heaven Children’s Haven is a non-profit, non-government organisation in Jeffreys Bay, which provides a safe place for vulnerable and abandoned children to be placed for any length of time necessary.
These placements are usually done by the department of social development and other role players who are responsible for locating children to places of safety when their circumstances require them to be removed.
The founder and manager of the house, Ma Nelly Senong, came to Jeffreys Bay in 2001 with a clear passion and calling from God to come and work with street children.
She wanted to care for and develop these children, who, at the time were a very big problem on the streets of Jeffreys Bay.
Nelly had always felt God calling her to be a mother to the motherless, and so she started filling gaps where many government organisations simply did not have the means to reach into.
Upon her arrival in Jeffreys Bay, she joined an existing ministry that was working with street children, where she learned how to care for and support them in the best way possible.
During this time, Ma Nelly also had the opportunity to complete her qualifications in early childhood development and counselling, which today helps her to run her project with great success.
After qualifying, she was able to found the 7th Heaven Children’s Haven, which focuses on taking in abandoned children and giving them a place to call home.
Together with the board of directors and the five permanent staff members, they have managed to change the lives of many children over the years.
Unfortunately, more often than not, these children have developmental delays because of trauma, foetal alcohol syndrome and drug dependency – as many were born to drug-addicted mothers.
Nelly cares for, encourages and supports the children while they fight to survive in a world that has dealt them a very rough hand from birth.
In some cases, learners have to be home-schooled due to developmental issues, and Nelly, herself, takes on this task with great enthusiasm.
They have discovered that gymnastics help these learners by developing their large and fine-motor skills, as recommended by their occupational therapists, and the project has therefore enrolled many of their children who have the physical ability to do so, in gym classes.
“Our children love their gymnastic exercises. They give them something to look forward to and work towards.
“They do their occupational therapy exercises without even knowing it, and these have brought about a remarkable improvement in their development.
“Other than gymnastics the children are stimulated with art classes, hikes, swims at the beach and other outdoor activities. Nelly mentions that she would love to incorporate music into their programme but they currently do not have the means to do so.
In a world where children’s homes are often painted in a very negative light, speaking with Nelly has been a reassuring experience, that our most vulnerable children are cared for well.
In this home, the children have a very real chance of achieving success and breaking the cycles of poverty, neglect and unwanted pregnancies that often result in children ending up in places such as this.
