Msizi Africa was set up in response to the need of the fifty orphans at Me Malijane's orphanage. When we realised we could help more children, we took this responsibility very seriously.

We started looking for projects where children needed support, and where we felt a real bond to the project to enable us all to work well together. We found three more projects. We now have four projects and care for over 1,000 children in two countries in Africa.

Me' Malijane's

Me' Malijane and her two colleagues are the longstanding and original housemothers at Mants'ase Children's Home. They've been there since it opened in the early 80's. As mothers saddened by the orphan crisis, they stepped in to provide love and care for 50 orphans living there. They have been mother figures to many for decades.

Staying loyal to the children and the home through periods where there was no food and no wages before a major funder came to the home, they are in charge of the day to day running of the home including shopping for the food that Msizi Africa funds.

Mampese's

Mampese and her husband John live near Me Malijane's orphanage. They too were concerned about orphans living alone in the village. They had no regular income so they would feed orphans when they had food, but very often they had to turn them away.

Me' Malijane told us about Mampese. We visited her and asked if she had the means, would she cook for them every day? "Yes!" she replied. We deliver food every month and Mampese cooks for 50 orphans. Ten other couples inspired by her also cook for local orphans – 380 orphans now benefit from Msizi Africa food cooked by their new 'parents'.

Kate's

Kate, and her late husband Chadd, founded their project in 2002. They care for orphans living with elderly HIV+ carers in villages near where Chadd grew up, in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Starting with a Christmas party for 80 orphans, they increased their support to delivering food parcels to these orphans every month. Their project has grown over the years as they've had to respond to the worsening orphan crisis in the region, and they now care for over 1,000 children.

Msizi Africa funds food parcels for 500 of them – and builds houses for these vulnerable children to ensure they have a safe, comfortable and hygienic home to grow up in.

Tom's

Tom and his wife Bulelwa founded their project in 1998. They empower street children and aim to change the way society perceives and treats them.

They provide alternatives to street life through engagement and therapeutic interventions and address the traumas associated with their experience.

A football and surfing programme occupies as much of these 100 children's time which is complemented by nutritious food provided by Msizi Africa to give them energy for such demanding activities - and we know they're demanding because we've surfed with them!