‘Angels of Alexandria’ open up hearts, home to needy kids

If there really are angels on Earth then Neels and Molly Bam must be the real deal.

For the past 18 years, the “Angels of Alexandria” have been caring for abused, abandoned and sick children at their Jehovah Jireh Haven in the conservative seaside town.

“Over the years we have had about 600 children pass through our doors,” Neels said.

“Some have come from children’s homes in Port Elizabeth for school holidays, while others have been more permanent.”

Of the 16 “permanent children” now staying in their house, 10 have been officially adopted by the couple, the other five have been fostered by them and the last one was placed in their care by social workers.

Most of the youngsters were either abandoned, abused or sick – some with HIV/Aids – before being cared for by Neels and Molly.

One child, Isaiah, was given a “few days to live” when he was found dumped in a public toilet and handed over to the care of the angels of Alexandria.

Photos taken of the emaciated youngster when he first arrived at the haven eight years ago are a far cry from the friendly boy who walks into the lounge to give “mommy and daddy” a hug.

When they first started and were allowed, under apartheid, to take in only white children, there used to be a lot of help from the local community who would often drop off food.

“Now that we also take in black children, most of our help is from out of town,” Molly said.

Two of the 16 children legally in their care are white.

Sitting in the house – crammed with smiling, singing kids – the couple said that it was not just the youngsters living with them who called them “mom and dad”.

Over weekends, Jehovah Jireh provides a safe haven for up to 65 children who come to play and eat a decent plate of food, before going back to nearby KwaNonqubela township.

The Bams also run a daily lunch feeding scheme from their sprawling property.

“We go through mountains of food and more than 2000 nappies every month,” Molly said.

There was also an army of other youngsters on the property – with their mothers – who had also been given a place to stay.

“We have 13 (women) volunteers who live with us as part of our extended family and they all have their own children ... one mother has six, others have five, some have three.”

Although looking after everybody is a full-time job, Neels also works as a mechanic in nearby Patterson.

“The job helps a lot ... I often fix farmers’ vehicles on weekends in exchange for permission to hunt venison on their lands.”

And, if that is not enough, the couple is busy registering with officials as a “drop-off point and youth centre”.

They have also donated some land to build more facilities for abandoned children.

(This story is courtesy of The Herald. Used with permission.)