Greensleeves place of safety for children was started some 18 years ago by Di and Ian Lehy.
They never planned to open a Children’s home – it was planned for them!
Everything started when they decided to help an existing staff member’s girlfriend when she arrived at their home with a baby on her back and a baby on her hip. This was the beginning!
Gradually the local community heard about what we Di and Ian were doing and that they were happy to help children who needed a place of safety, and so the numbers grew and so too did their vision. They would often get calls from Child Welfare asking them to place a child in a safe environment for 3 months and then possibly foster the child.
As the need for this is so high, so too did the realization that there was not enough space to accommodate all the children. The need for more room for all the children, led them to look into altering an existing stable into a proper Children’s home.
In order to try and get the conversion of the stable going and with limited resources, Di, on celebrating her birthday, invited friends and family to the farm indicating that she would love their “presence” and their presents!
The list of presents included paint, hardware vouchers etc.
And people were truly incredible. They came to celebrate Di’s special day by helping her fulfil a dream.
And so it has continued. Friends and family of Di and Ian, as well as their Church have been very supportive of all that they were doing and especially in the conversion of the stable into accommodation for their 39 children.
Materials were donated and the building gradually progressed until it was completed and officially opened in November 2010.
The community continues to make a huge difference to the lives of the children.
Doctors, dentists, optometrists, social workers, teachers and a chemist have all come forward and offered their services in various ways.
At this point in time, Di and Ian are running the home using their own resources and any donations they receive. They are in the process of applying for Government support, but this takes time and as yet, is not available.
If you would like to contribute to the running of the home in a monetary way, banking details are:
Greensleeves Trust Account
Absa: 9265431853
Branch Code: 632005
May you in return be abundantly blessed.
