Every Baby Deserves a Safe Place to Begin

Joshua House is a baby home in Johannesburg, South Africa, providing safe care for babies who have faced difficult starts in life. Many have been orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, abandoned due to poverty or unplanned pregnancies, or legally relinquished for adoption.

We care for babies aged 0-2, admitted through registered Child Protection Organizations (DHS). Their stay is typically 6-12 months while legal and medical assessments are done to determine the best long-term placement, whether reunification with family or adoption.

WHY A BABY HOUSE?

Each year, over 10,000 babies are abandoned in South Africa

In South Africa:

• Around 300 babies are abandoned each month (only counting survivors)

• For every baby found alive, 2 are found deceased

• 70% of abandonments are unsafe, and many babies are never found

• 65% of abandoned babies are newborns

Reasons for relinquishment

• Rape: Nearly 53,900 reported sexual crimes in 2022/2023, with 80% being rapes

• Forced prostitution

• Unsafe illegal abortions