Place of Mercy and Hope

Toddler, Creche, Pre-School, Soup Kitchen, Clinic & Adult Learning Courses

Who We Are

A Distinct Identity

The Place of Mercy and Hope is a collaborative effort between the Marist Brothers, Sisters of Mercy and Lay Person's in the Sundays River Valley, Addo, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The program assists families who are from incredibly disadvantaged communities, with a specific focus toward children.

Our program cares for a Baby and Toddler Centre, Creche and Pre-School, Clinic, Soup Kitchens and Adult Learning programs.

The Place of Mercy and Hope work extensively with children who have been abused and those that have HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, Cancer and other common South African illnesses.

Activities

Making A Difference

Education

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Toddler, Crèche & Pre School

We care for over one hundred and eighty children with a staff of 11 dedicated educators in the Valencia Formal Settlement in Addo. Our education program prepares our children to flourish in a Primary School environment.

Soup Kitchens

Helping The Community

We are dedicated to stepping up our efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in
this area. We run Soup Kitchens in a number of Formal and Informal Settlements
feeding hundreds of children and adults weekly.

Adult Learning Courses

It always seems impossible until it's done.

Computer lessons are taught throughout the Valley, offering children and adults
the chance to learn and understand the importance of the Computer. These
lessons were developed by Sister Breda.

Summer Camp

One Step at a Time

A Summer Camp is held annually in December in the Langbos Informal Settlement. Our holiday program develops every year. We welcome over 400 disadvantaged children, 20 special needs children, welcome 10 newly appointed South African Marist Student Leaders (Head Boys and Head Girls) of the five Marist Schools, Marist Alumni from the five South African Marist, two German Marist Alumni and a few local volunteers who are mentored by the Marists.

Addo Township Designs

Entrepreneurship

Our goal is to empower local women of the Valencia Formal Settlement by
providing them with the skills necessary for sewing and embroidery. Raymond Nel
(a St Henry's Alumnus) donated sewing machines, a Wendy House and funded the
education of local ladies in business management. Addo Township Designs supplies
school uniforms to local schools, handbags, and embroiders anything customers
require.

Clinic

Reinforcing our Commitment

With this initiative, our mission is to assist those incredibly sick and dying by
providing Health Care to the Valencia Formal Settlement. We have three dedicated
Home Based Carers who walk Valencia Formal Settlement daily attending to those
who have HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, Cancer and other common South African illnesses.
They work out of our transformed forty foot container next to the Place of Mercy
and Hope. Our clinic works in collaboration with the Addo Clinic.

Key People

Committed to the Cause

Sr Martha O'Connor

Director of Place of Mercy and Hope

Sister Martha is a Sister of Mercy and has been involved in Education since 1970 teaching children from ages 4 to 16. She was principal of a St. Ursula's Junior School for three years. Prior to coming to South Africa, Sr. Martha was Head of Religious Education at St. Bede's Catholic College in Bristol. She also worked on the Pastoral Care team with vulnerable young students and school phobics. Sr. Martha accepted the challenge from her Mercy Congregation to come to South Africa in 2006.