Khulani Children Shelter

Park Hill in Durban North is a residential suburb — quiet, tree-lined, close to the beach. It is an unlikely address for a children's shelter, and that's precisely what makes Khulani Children's Shelter unusual: its location in a functioning neighbourhood reflects its commitment to providing children with the experience of real community life, not institutional isolation.

Founded and registered as an NPO in 2003, Khulani has been caring for the children that South Africa's social failures produce — orphaned by AIDS, abandoned by overwhelmed families, removed from abusive homes, displaced by poverty. The Shelter's name, Khulani, means "grow" in Zulu: a statement of purpose.

Placements and Supervision

Children are placed at Khulani by the State Welfare Department, SAPS, or court order. This formal placement process means that every child at Khulani has been assessed as needing care and protection. The Shelter is supervised by social workers from the Department of Social Development, ensuring that children's progress is regularly reviewed and that plans are in place for their long-term wellbeing.

Core Services

Meals and Basic Needs Three meals a day, clothing, and toiletries — the fundamentals of human dignity and physical care.

Education Support School enrolment with full support: uniforms, stationery, and transport. Education is a non-negotiable investment in each child's future.

Medical Care Access to medical services and health management for all children in the Shelter.

Counselling and Therapy Professional counselling and therapeutic support for children whose early lives have included abuse, abandonment, loss, or trauma. Therapy is provided within the Shelter environment, reducing barriers for children who might not engage in external settings.

Community Participation and Religion Children are given opportunities to participate in community events and religious life — normalising their experience and ensuring they are part of, not apart from, the community around them.

Phulani Arts and Craft Studio

The Khulani Arts and Craft Studio on the Shelter premises is one of its most distinctive features. The project was established as a development tool for Shelter children and for youth and adults in the surrounding community. Teaching African beadwork, pottery, arts and crafts, and traditional music and dance, the Studio does several things simultaneously: it builds skills, it connects children to cultural heritage, it creates community across generations, and it generates income — with a percentage of proceeds supporting the Shelter's operations. Artists earn a sustainable income, and unique handcrafted items are produced and sold. The Studio has been described as fostering "hope and opportunity" through arts as a means of personal discovery and empowerment.

Khulani Vegetable Garden Project

At a site in Barwood Place donated by the eThekwini Parks Department, Khulani runs a vegetable and herb garden — growing food for those involved in the project, generating income from surplus sales, and teaching agricultural and food production skills to adults and children.

Sustainability Enterprises

In a creative approach to financial sustainability, Khulani operates two guest houses — a self-catering property in the Umgababa/Mnini area (offering an African rural experience near the beach and a dam) and a one-bedroom apartment in Redhill, Durban North — as well as a 24/7 shuttle service offering airport transfers, city tours, corporate travel, and event transport. All proceeds from these enterprises support the Shelter's operations directly.

Khulani Children's Shelter: 33 Grove Crescent, Park Hill, Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal. Phone: 031 563 9450 / 031 564 9083. Website: khulanishelter.co.za. Facebook: @Khulani.Childrens.Shelter. NPO registered 2003. Open 08:00–17:00 all days.