Inside Bethany Home, Families Begin Again
A story about the charity
Leaving an abusive home may happen in a single day. Then come dozens of decisions.
Where will the family stay? Can the children continue school? Is medical or legal help needed? How will the next meal be covered? Where can the mother find work?
Bethany Home helps families take these questions one at a time.
Founded in 1989 by Val Halley-Wright, the Johannesburg shelter can accommodate up to 50 women and children. It provides a safe place to live, food, counselling and care while women begin working out what life after leaving will look like.
Some need medical or legal support. Others need to learn new skills or find sustainable work. Bethany helps women access these services while giving them time to make decisions without having to solve everything at once.
Children are part of the plan from the beginning. The home helps with school placements and gives families space to settle into a new routine together.
Bethany has been doing this work long before JP Markets began. In our tenth year, we gave the home R10,000 to help it continue caring for women and children. Ours is one gift. Their work continues every day.
Starting over is often made up of ordinary days: getting the children back to school, attending an appointment, learning a new skill, or applying for work. Bethany gives families the time and support to take those days one at a time.
