Meet Charmaine: A mother of Fisantekraal

Charmaine meets us at the door, a toddler in her arms and another shyly hiding behind her legs, tiny hands clinging softly. She smiles warmly, laughs deeply and - beyond a doubt - loves fiercely. In fact, the overwhelming feeling one gets from this remarkable woman and her home is love.

Born and raised in Ottery, Charmaine (58) lost her mom at the tender age of three. Her uncle took in Charmaine and her five older siblings, raising them as his own. While working at a crèche in Fisantekraal with children aged one and younger, she discovered her calling: Witnessing the abuse and hardship these little ones faced had a profound effect on her - she knew she had to help! With the guidance of a social worker, who carefully inspected her rental home and vetted Charmaine, One Heartbeat Safe House was born.

The first children in her care - twin girls (who arrived at eight months old and are now turning four) and a little boy (who arrived at seven and is now nine) - are now a permanent part of Charmaine’s family. Over the years, they have seen many “siblings” come and go.

About a year ago, Wendy Bosse, founding member of Olympians Social Development and Education, brought about a major milestone by purchasing a house in Fisantekraal to serve as the safe house premises.

The safe house provides everything a child could ever need (with love firmly at the top of the list!), whether for a short while or for longer seasons. Charmaine can care for up to six children at a time, affectionately referring to them as “my halfdosyn” (my half-a-dozen). She shares, “I want these kids to be healthy and experience love. I want them to grow up to be confident, capable adults who can hold their heads up high!”

Thanks to the unwavering support of the Olympians, along with her partner Dennis and her youngest daughter, Aqeelah (35), the safe house truly is a safe and joyful haven. “I hope my kids feel that their ‘Ouma’ gave them purpose and encouragement,” Charmaine says. She believes her own sense of purpose and encouragement comes from God, who placed this calling on her heart.

When she and Dennis aren’t busy raising their half-a-dozen (nappy-changing in this house runs like a conveyor belt!), they love gardening. Dennis is also a talented carpenter - which brings us to our kitchen refurbishment, where he was an invaluable part of the team.

Thanks to the donation of Lizarn Smith and family, we had a fantastic kitchen that, with a bit of TLC, clever adaptations, and the expertise of our go-to carpenter, Alex, was transformed into a functional and welcoming space, fit to serve a big family.

Our sincere thanks to Eben Binedell from LPG Gas Services for assisting with the necessary changes to the kitchen’s gas supply.

Finally, we would like to thank Wendy (Olympians) for her warmth and support throughout this project. It was incredibly heartwarming to see the children run into her arms when she stopped by during the installation - a true testament to the love and care that she pours into Charmaine’s family.

Each person involved in this kitchen refurbishment gave generously of their resources, time, and talent - an act of love. And in turn, that love ripples outward, reaching the hearts and futures of the most innocent and vulnerable among us.

Charmaine, your boundless love is an inspiration to us all!

Dennis (left) proved to be a big help to Alex (right) during the installation.

With every refurbishment project - whether it’s a soup kitchen, a teacher’s lounge, or a sensory garden at an old age home - we try to include thoughtful touches that truly resonate with the people who will use the space. Charmaine loves having plants in her home, so we added dedicated shelf just for them. The moment they went up, she dashed outside to fetch her plants, ready to make the space her own!

Before (left) and after (right). This leg of the L-shaped kitchen proved challenging: Not wide enough for countertops, we decided to switch the fridge and stove to better use the space where the cupboards were then installed.

Dream team: Dennis and Alex, all smiles after a gruellingly hot (but wonderfully satisfactory) day!

Charmaine, Juanita (The One Percent Movement) and Dennis.