What we do

Our HOUSE OF RESTORATION is a safe haven and a place of empowerment for destitute, vulnerable and abused women, their children, as well as young teenage girls. They come to us from all over the country, and have often been the victims of domestic violence, abuse, sexual trauma and human trafficking; many of them turned to addiction and prostitution. They all have one desire in common: To let go of their past and to build a better future – for themselves, and for their children.

The education of our children is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. In 2011, THE CRADLE OF HOPE joined forces with Helen du Plessis, founder of the TJOKKERTJIES FOR JESUS pre-primary school.  The pre-school is housed in a Government building, previously known as the LAPPIES & LALIE pre-school. Currently, under the leadership of the brilliant Helen du Plessis and her team, approximately 80 children and babies attend the pre-school on a daily basis, following the PLAY WITH A PURPOSE Pre-School Curriculum.

In September 2017, 6 brave, ordinary women lived for 12 nights – alone – on the streets of Krugersdorp; becoming the face of Melodie van Brakel’s relentless campaign to raise awareness around the plight of the homeless, and the desperate need for a safe safe hold home for women such as these. A tireless media and community drive paid off; two months later, at the end of November 2017, the TOWER OF LIFE SHELTER FOR WOMEN (and their own children) was opened.

In 2016, two soup kitchens in the Greater West Krugersdorp area closed down. Every lunchtime at THE CRADLE OF HOPE – HOUSE OF RESTORATION, the children coming past from school started stopping at the gate, asking for something to eat. We started buying 15 loaves of bread, a tub of peanut butter, and a tin of jam per day – and made protein-rich sandwiches to feed these hungry little tummies. 

In October 2003 Melodie van Brakel – Founder & CEO of THE CRADLE OF HOPE – nearly died; a misdiagnosed burst appendix lead to septicaemia and several days on life support in ICU. She should have died – but she didn’t; and Melodie soon realised that God had saved  her life for a purpose: TO FIND A NEED – AND TO FILL IT. In February 2020 THE CRADLE OF HOPE introduced “FIND IT & FILL IT” (FIFI).

During 2007 THE CRADLE OF HOPE purchased an 18Ha plot in Tarlton. This plot was previously owned by Senator Johannes Willem (Jan) De Klerk, the father of former President F.W. De Klerk, winner of the Nobel Prize in 1993. We believe that there is a very strong prophetic calling on this piece of land. Currently +- 160 adults & children live at THE CRADLE ARK. The families are living in the structures on the plot.