Amadea Safe House

Amadea Safe House was born from Rina Malan's years of running a part-time place of safety alongside her nursery school and business ventures — until she realised that part-time was not enough, and gave everything to do this work full-time. The name Amadea means "Loving Child of God" — and that is the spirit in which every child at Amadea is welcomed. Children arrive through referrals from the Juvenile Courts and social welfare organisations in Pretoria and surrounding areas: they have been abandoned, neglected, or abused — sexually, emotionally, or physically — and some are disabled or HIV/AIDS-affected.

What distinguishes Amadea is not institutional care but genuine family: children live on a small holding in a loving Christian environment, raised by Rina and her team as their own. Some children have been there for over 22 years — because they have no families to return to, and Amadea has become their family.

What They Offer Children and Families

Full Residential Family-Based Care Children placed at Amadea by court order or social welfare referral receive full residential care in a safe, structured, loving family home on a Pretoria smallholding. The environment is deliberately homelike rather than institutional — prioritising the sense of belonging, stability, and security that abused and abandoned children most need.

Early Childhood Development Young children at Amadea receive focused early childhood development — building the foundational skills and emotional security that trauma often disrupts.

Schooling and Educational Support Older children attend schools in the area, with full support and guidance. Amadea actively encourages residents to further their qualifications after matric — supporting young adults into post-school education and training.

ABET — Adult Basic Education and Training For older residents who never completed schooling, ABET courses provide the opportunity to finish matric — a pathway to employment and independence.

Healthcare for HIV/AIDS-Affected and Disabled Children Amadea provides specialist healthcare navigation for HIV-positive children and children with disabilities — ensuring they receive treatment and support that the state system may have denied them.

Skills Development for Teenagers and Youth Income-generating skills training for teenage and youth residents builds practical capabilities for independent life — preparing young people for the world beyond Amadea.

Women's Empowerment in the Community Beyond caring for children, Amadea's vision extends to empowering women in the surrounding area with income-generating skills — reflecting an understanding that women's economic independence is protection against violence.

Community Feeding for the Underprivileged Amadea feeds underprivileged members of the surrounding community — extending their care beyond the walls of the safe house.

Amadea Safe House is in Pretoria. Children are placed via social welfare or Juvenile Court referral. To refer a child or support the work, visit amadeasafehouse.co.za or find them on Facebook: Amadea Safe House.