The 1000 Hills Community Helpers project was estab...

The 1000 Hills Community Helpers project was established in 1989 by starting up a community feeding program. In response to the needs of the community they constructed there own community care centre in 2008 comprising a health and wellness clinic, children’s infirmary, education and development facility. This centre was named by the local community members as “Ikhaya Lo Thando” ("Home of Love") that would cater for the needs of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children, supporting them with food and clothing. Dawn Leppan eyes were opened to the political strife and devastation of families in the local community of the Valley of 1000 Hills caused by political unrest. In 1989 this heart breaking scenario inspired Alan Paton and herself to start up a community feeding program. This was first held in the open under the trees in the Inchanga area, then moving from there into St. Theresa’s Catholic Church building that had not been in use for a while. In 1990 it was realized that community members were in need of medical assistance due to the impact of HIV/Aids related illnesses. It was then decided to start up a basic clinic and an infant nutritional program. Medical volunteers were then sourced to assist in carrying this burden. From that first project, this vision has grown to provide essential services to the people in the form of health care, education, infant care and HIV/AIDS awareness, henceforth, the 1000 Hills Community Helpers community centre.