Why Your Help Matters
At LITTLE EDEN, every day is a journey of love, resilience and hope. For more than 50 years we’ve been home to children and adults with profound intellectual disabilities – individuals who need care from cradle to grave. Their stories are not only about challenge, but also about joy, courage and the incredible power of the human spirit.
Caring for 300 residents requires far more than medical expertise. It means creating a true home where every achievement is celebrated, where dignity is never compromised and where each person is valued as a whole being with mind, body and soul.
But this lifelong promise cannot be kept without the help of people like you. Government subsidies cover only a fraction of what it costs to provide round-the-clock care, therapy, nutrition, and safe, stimulating environments. The reality is that we depend on fundraising to bridge this gap – because without it, the residents of LITTLE EDEN simply could not receive the care they deserve.
Why we need your help
To ensure every resident has access to professional therapy, medical support and nurturing care for life.
To sustain our homes, staff and facilities so that families in need have a place to turn when no other options remain.
To protect the dignity of individuals who may never live independently, but whose lives hold immeasurable value.
Every diaper washed, every therapy session offered, every small victory achieved is made possible through fundraising and the generosity of our community. When you give, you’re not just donating – you’re becoming part of each resident’s journey.
You’ve got the opportunity to make a lasting difference – to help a child sit for the first time, to give an elderly resident comfort in their final years, to show them that they’re never forgotten.
Together, we can ensure that every life entrusted to LITTLE EDEN is lived with love, dignity and purpose.
Current wishlist
A New/Used Vehicle: Keeping Our Residents Moving
For LITTLE EDEN’s residents, reliable transport is not a luxury—it is an essential part of providing quality, lifelong care. Our current run around vehicle is 20 years old, and escalating maintenance and repair costs are placing an increasing strain on our resources.
We need a safe, reliable and practical small MPV to transport residents to medical appointments, therapy sessions, community activities and essential outings, as well as travel between our Edenvale and Bapsfontein Homes.
A new or used vehicle will provide greater safety, reliability and dignity, while ensuring that our residents can continue accessing the care and opportunities they need.
Help us keep our residents moving, connected and cared for. Your gift can put a new or used vehicle on the road and make a lasting difference in their daily lives.
Adopt – An – Angel (AAA) PROGRAMME
- Some of our residents arrive at LITTLE EDEN having been abandoned, with no family able to provide the lifelong care they need. Our Adopt an Angel Programme gives these vulnerable residents a place to call home, a family to belong to, and the specialised care they deserve.
- Through regular donor support, an Angel’s essential needs can be met—from nutritious meals, specialised therapy and medical care to clothing, personal care, education and opportunities to participate, learn and grow. Most importantly, donors help ensure that every resident is known, valued and loved.
- For an abandoned resident, LITTLE EDEN becomes their family.
- 64% of residents are abandoned or unable to contribute financially.
- LITTLE EDEN subsidises the care of all residents who cannot pay.
Your support helps make that promise possible—not just for today, but for a lifetime.
Adopt an Angel per-resident cost:
R565
Per Day
R16 944
Per Month
R203 333
Per Annum
The cost of caring for all 300 residents:
R169 443
Per Day
R5 083 200
Per Month
R61 000 000
Per Annum
A dedicated area featuring adaptive equipment to assist residents in developing essential daily living skills and promoting independence.
Designed for sensory engagement, this space supports cognitive development for individuals with sensory processing challenges.
A comprehensive section focused on rehabilitation and improving mobility through tailored physiotherapy services.
Equipped for music therapy, this room enhances emotional expression and cognitive engagement among residents.
A therapeutic space promoting relaxation and hydrotherapy to support physical and mental wellness.
Early Childhood Disability Care Centre – Giving children with disabilities the right start in life.
LITTLE EDEN is seeking R2.5 million to transform the existing Therapy Centre at Danny Hyams Home in Edenvale into a modern, accessible Early Childhood Disability Care and Development Centre, supporting 20- 30 young beneficiaries.
The refurbishment will create a safe, nurturing and purpose-designed environment, including improved accessibility, structural upgrades, kitchen and storage facilities, electrical and lighting improvements, and effective heating and cooling.
This Centre will provide young children with disabilities with access to early intervention, developmental support, care and opportunities to reach their potential—while giving families greater support and hope for their children’s future.
Your investment can help create a place where every child is given the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive.
Solar upgrade and expansion - Reliable Power. Lifelong Care.
At LITTLE EDEN 300 children and adults wellbeing relies on a constant and reliable electricity supply to power specialised medical equipment, hoists, feeding equipment, refrigeration for medication, security systems, lighting, laundry facilities and food preparation.
Unlike many organisations, our work cannot stop when the power goes out.
The Challenge
- South Africa’s increasingly unreliable electricity supply
- The enormous cost of electricity to meet the essential power requirements of our residential care homes.
- As a residential healthcare facility operating 24 hours a day, reliable electricity at a cost effective rate is not a convenience – it is an essential requirement.
Building for the Future - Elvira Rota Village Bapsfontein
LITTLE EDEN has already invested in a 200 kWh solar energy system, significantly reducing our dependence on the national grid. However, this system no longer meets the growing needs of our residents or the planned expansion of the Village.
The next phase will increase our solar capacity to 250 kWh through the installation of:
- 168 additional solar panels
- Additional battery storage
- Additional inverters
- Expanded solar infrastructure
The Domitilla & Danny Hyams Home in Edenvale
LITTLE EDEN has already invested in a grid-tied solar energy system. While this has made some reduction in our electricity costs, it no longer meets the growing needs of our residential home and provides no battery storage during electricity interruptions.
To provide long-term energy security and reduce our electricity costs which amount to R1.7 million per year at Edenvale, the next phase will be to upgrade the existing system to a 350 kWh solar installation by:
- Realigning the existing solar panels to maximise efficiency.
- Installing 105 additional solar panels.
- Installing battery storage to provide uninterrupted power during outages.
- Upgrading the existing inverters to allow integration with the battery system.
- Integrating the existing 275 kVA diesel generator into the new energy management system.
These improvements will reduce LITTLE EDEN’s reliance on municipal electricity by an estimated 70–80%, providing a more reliable, sustainable and cost-effective energy solution for the future.
Farming irrigation - Growing Sustainability. Securing the Future.
Water is the lifeblood of LITTLE EDEN’s pecan orchard and greenhouse vegetable farming programme. With a reliable irrigation system, we can maximise crop yields, increase food production and strengthen a sustainable source of income that helps provide lifelong care for our residents.
Our farming initiative is about far more than growing pecan nuts and vegetables. It is about reducing food costs, generating long-term financial sustainability and ensuring that the residents who call LITTLE EDEN home continue to receive the love, care and dignity they deserve for the rest of their lives.
By nurturing the land today, we are building a stronger, more sustainable future. Every harvest helps reduce our dependence on external funding, allowing more of our resources to be directed towards resident care while protecting the future of LITTLE EDEN for generations to come.
Funding Required for irrigation in the:
Cold Storage: protecting Every Harvest
A dedicated cold room will provide LITTLE EDEN with the capacity to safely store freshly harvested vegetables and pecan nuts, preserving quality, extending shelf life and reducing valuable produce losses. This essential investment will strengthen our farming enterprise, improve efficiency and help maximise the income generated from our agricultural initiatives.