The Baby Home, situated in Durban North, is a Non-Profit Organisation committed to providing a home, warmth, and love to abandoned and orphaned infants.
The journey began in 2014 when two school teachers, Joanne Tuenissen and her husband, Bjorn Tuenissen, adopted their son, Emmanuel. She believes that Emmanuel’s adoption completely changed their lives. She said: “Going through the adoption process ourselves opened our eyes to the incredible need for safe spaces and strong support systems for vulnerable babies and for the families hoping to adopt them.
We saw just how big the gap was and felt called to do more. That’s when we decided to jump in and get involved in a more hands-on way with child protection and adoption—and The Baby Home Durban North was born.”
The transition home gets the babies through social workers, and some are brought in straight from hospitals. However, Joanne believes in keeping the numbers of babies small so each baby can get the one-on-one love and care they need.
“One of our biggest hopes is to raise more awareness about adoption in South Africa. There are so many myths and misconceptions, and we want to help change the narrative and encourage more people to consider adoption—not as a last resort, but as a beautiful way to build a family,” she said.
The Baby Home also has a project called Baby Line. It is a support and counselling helpline for mothers who are in crisis or feel overwhelmed.
“Many moms who reach out to us are scared, alone, and unsure what to do. Baby Line gives them a chance to talk to someone who can walk with them through their situation, whether that means finding a safe place, accessing resources, or just having someone to listen,” explained Joanne.
While pushing for the growth of the Baby Line, Joanne continued to persuade the community to get involved, through foster care, crisis care, volunteering, or by simply spreading the word.
Mothers who would like to contact the Baby Line can contact the number: 082 069 907. For those who would like to reach out and donate, they can use the banking details below and use their names as a reference number.
Bank: FNB
Branch: Ballito
Branch Code: 250655
Account: 6278056874
