Rescue a child, Restore a life,
Raise a leader and Release a star.
LIV Thokomala has 12 homes around the country, nestled within the community where each home has a foster mother to love and nurture the children in her care.
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About LIV Thokomala
LIV Thokomala (previously called Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation) has cared for and raised hundreds of children over the past 17 years.
THOKOMALA meaning “warmth” or “care” in isiZulu, was originally founded by Unilever SA in 2002, with focus on caring for children affected by HIV/Aids. The number of orphaned children radically escalated in South Africa, compelling the care for children in need to become the core necessity.
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Unilever approached LIV at the end of 2016 with the option of entering into a partnership to better care for the children in the Thokomala homes. The heart and vision was the same – to give every child the best opportunity to reach their full potential. LIV founders Tich and Joan Smith felt lead by the Lord and said YES.
The journey resulting in the launch of LIV THOKOMALA on 8th December 2017 with LIV officially taking over the management of the homes on the 1st January 2018.
A place of warmth and care
The LIV Story
There are over 5 million orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa with 12,000 being added every month, and thousands of child-headed households.
It is against this background that LIV was founded, partnering with government, business and the church, with the church being the catalyst to provide urgently needed holistic residential care on a large scale for the most vulnerable of these children. Our core vision is to Rescue a child, Restore a life, Raise a leader, and Release a star.
Programmes
Each of our programmes directly benefit the children in our care ensuring they reach their full potential and create a brighter future for them.
Restore-a-Life
LIV Thokomala places great value on restoring the hearts, bodies and minds of the many children placed in our care.
Preliminary services are required to begin the process of restoration following their placement with us, all vital to the child’s healing.
Such services include physiological & psychological assessments, social support services and clothing them.
LIV4Family
We believe that as we put a roof over every vulnerable child’s head, give them a mother to love them, feed them and educate them to the glory of God, our nation will be changed forever.
LIV Thokomala places orphaned and vunerable children into a family environment where they receive unconditional love from a foster mother who cares for her children…
Raise-a-Leader
At LIV Thokomala we believe that a solid holistic upbringing plays a vital role in giving every child the opportunity to reach their full potential.
By investing in these young lives you are investing in their future and the future of the many lives that they will touch.
Raise-A-Leader gives you the opportunity to ‘adopt’ a child and follow his/her progress knowing that you are making a difference in that precious child’s life…
Release-a-Star
Equipping our young adults with the academic tools, vocational opportunities and life skills to enable them to become self-supporting and active members of the public is a key priority for LIV Thokomala.
Providing an opportunity for them to achieve their highest potential through Release-A-Star is how businesses, churches or individuals can partner with us to help them realise their dreams…
Our Homes
Our 12 homes are situated within communities across South Africa and are called home to over 70 children in the care of trained and dedicated mothers.
Through partnership with Child Welfare South Africa and other social welfare agencies, our mothers and children receive support and guidance from devoted social workers who come alongside them in their journey of adjustment and celebrate with them as their lives flourish in their new families.
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LIV Thokomala partners with local churches to provide spiritual discipleship for our families, support to our social workers and implement programmes to develop, equip and encourage them through life’s journey.
Graduates
LIV is passionate about education. Learning sets the mind free and unlocks hidden talents.
It is our dream to extend this opportunity to the children in our care, so that they can pursue what their hearts deeply desire.
Siphiwe Ntinga
Siphiwe recently graduated at Damelin Durban City Campus with a Diploma in Business Management.
I’m proud to say I am finally about to reap what I sewed through all the hard work, countless late nights and early mornings.
Placed in one of our Isipingo homes from the age of 10, Siphiwe has had his life transformed and was released as a star in 2016 after matriculating with a Bachelor pass.
Life at the community home was perfectly amazing – I found friends, pillars and most of all a real family and the love of a mother that was exceptionally amazing. Thanks to Unilever and LIV’s outstanding work in improving the lives of orphans and practicing humanity has indeed shaped the lives of people like me and gratitiude alone cannot define how grateful I am.
Past Graduates
Many other students have been released as stars before Siphiwe, some in Marketing & Accounting others in Plumbing & Graphic Design, and a Social Worker to continue the journey of supporting vulnerable children.
Won’t you join hands in partnership with us to support the dream of our young shining stars to become the nation’s next leaders.
Want to get involved?
LIV Thokomala is only able to do its great work through the giving and caring hearts of people and businesses.
Or get in touch
Contact Info:
T: +27 31 562 9868
E: info@liv-thokomala.com
Administrative Office:
PO Box 1024
Umhlanga Rocks, 4320
102 Forest Drive
Umhlanga, 4051
Organisation Info:
Non Profit Company No.
2005/015781/08
PBO No. 930 018 447
NPO No. 050-974
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