About Us

The Bethany House Trust initiates, implements, co-ordinates and manages projects critical to the children and youth of South Africa.

The Trust – established in 1998 in response to the critical need of young people for shelter, access to primary health services and education – is registered as a children’s charity trust with the High Court, is registered as a non-profit organization (NPO) with the South African Department of Social Development and as a public benefit organization (PBO) with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and as such, enjoys section 18a Tax Exempt Status. The Bethany House Trust also complies with laid down criteria for BEE institutions and is a transformed BEE entity both in terms of management (ownership) and beneficiaries.

A Board of Trustees approves strategic direction and policy, whilst a management team is responsible for the execution of strategy, policy and the daily affairs of the Trust.

The Trust focuses on three areas of service delivery to children and youth, viz.:

• Welfare & Health
• Education
• Youth & Sport Development

Mission Statement:

“To develop and implement initiatives that will portray the Bethany House Trust as the leading non governmental organization in developmental issues affecting children and youth, and in so doing contribute to nation building.”

Our approach is based on:

• Aligning the Trust’s initiatives with critical regional issues impacting upon young people’s lives;
• Adopting a facilitative and catalytic role in establishing projects to serve as models for replication;
• Establishment of delivery structures;
• Encouragement of strategic partnerships with stakeholdersthrough the building of relationships;
• Acheiving self-sustainability for all projects.

Former president Nelson

After a presentation to the “Office on the Rights of the Child” in the Presidency, the following comments were received from the Presidency: Republic of South Africa:

• The initiave was described as an important way in which the goodwill of citizens should be reconnected towards children;
• The vision of the organization was recognised;
• And we were commended for our efforts to promote a caring society that will not only restore dignity to but also protect and respect the rights of children.