Ubuhle Babantwana




Ubuhle Babantwana - Mfuleni, Cape Town

The Story: As computer programmer for Old Mutual, Pumla Gigi had a great job by South African standards and earned a decent living. She lived in a middle class neighborhood with her husband and three children. Nonetheless, Pumla was not happy with her job and felt her life had no true purpose. One day while visiting the poverty stricken township of Mfuleni, Pumla was overcome by the disturbing scene of children running around all day without any supervision. The children wandered everyday without a decent lunch, without being bathed, and vulnerable to the incidents of rape and murder that plagues much of the township. Her mothering instincts took effect as Pumla began caring for these children each day. Realizing that her meaning in life was to take care of South Africa’s forgotten children, Mama Pumla quit her job, moved with her husband to a tiny home in Mfuleni and founded the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Centre in October 2004. Starting with only five children, Pumla had 30 children in her care only a few months later and now, two years later, takes care of almost 120 up to 5 years of age. She has also taken in 10 orphaned and neglected children despite having three children of her own. She has enlisted the dedicated help of 12 unpaid teachers and caretakers who have joined her calling. Although Pumla and her husband now live in relative poverty, Mama Pumla has never been happier with her life. The Ubuhle community of dedicated volunteers now provides a remarkable safe-haven to these orphaned and vulnerable children. However, Pumla still does not have sufficient funds to pay any of her staff, battles to cover her electricity bills each month and struggles to raise 10 foster children in already cramped living conditions. Because funds fall short of the project’s needs almost every month, Pumla’s husband donates over 30% of his income to foot the bill. However, with just a little support - a new home for her fostered children and a couple thousand dollars each month - CHOSA can transform the lives of these children. Mama Pumla and Ubuhle are counting on your generosity to make a difference for Mfuleni’s children.