Haven for babies set to close down

A PORT Elizabeth facility that has cared for hundreds of abandoned and abused babies over the past decade will shut its doors at the end of June.

The AAA Safehouse in Brand Street, Westering, has been forced to close after its main sponsor, based in Australia, pulled funding. Debbie Devoy, 59, who founded AAA Safehouse in November 2004, said this was due to the economic climate. “It’s with a sad and heavy heart that we decided to close down,” she said. “This is due to the depreciation of the rand and the general economic climate that has forced the main sponsor to withdraw funding. “I feel sad. At the same time I believe that this season has come to an end as it is now. “We do not feel good about the decision to close but we are very proud of what we have achieved over the years.

“Six of the children have been adopted by overseas families. We often joke that perhaps the next president of this country will come from among these children. “They are in very good homes and get the best education. We are grateful to everyone who sponsored us over the years.” Devoy said the facility – with running costs of about R50 000 a month – had come about after she and her husband, Shannon, 56, read about babies being abandoned. “We decided to take babies into our own home 12 years ago, after reading in The Herald about abandoned babies. I phoned a social worker to ask how I could help,” Devoy said. Two weeks later, police dropped off the facility’s first ward – a baby girl wrapped in a towel, just five hours old, umbilical cord still attached. More than 300 children have since passed through AAA Safehouse. Three babies remain – two are being adopted and the third will be placed in foster care.