Ever since I was a young child, I dreamed of creating a home for vulnerable children and young people.
Growing up in Zimbabwe, residential care for children who had lost parental care was often referred to as an orphanage. As I have grown older and gained a deeper understanding of child welfare and trauma-informed care, I have come to prefer the terms children’s home or residential care. Every child is more than the circumstances they have experienced, and every child deserves to be recognised for their strengths, their potential, their dreams and their individuality.
The vision for St Victoria Children’s Home did not begin in a boardroom, a classroom or a business plan. It began through the people who shaped my life, the experiences that touched my heart and the lessons that stayed with me long after childhood.
It began with the people I loved, the values they lived by and the compassion they showed to others. It began with witnessing both loss and kindness, hardship and hope, and learning from an early age that the support of caring people can make all the difference in a child’s life.
Some of my earliest memories taught me that life can change in an instant.
When I was young, my mother’s sister and her partner passed away, leaving behind children who had suddenly lost the people who were meant to guide, protect and love them throughout their lives.
As a child, I may not have understood every detail of the situation, but I understood the sadness, the uncertainty and the profound impact that loss can have on a family. I understood that children who lose their parents face challenges that no child should ever have to face, and I saw how important it was for those children to be surrounded by people who cared.
I watched family members step forward to support one another during an incredibly difficult time. They offered comfort, stability and love when it was needed most. Those experiences planted a seed in my heart that would remain with me for many years and would eventually become part of the foundation for the vision I hold today.
However, another experience would leave an even deeper impression on me.
My older sister had a close friend who was an orphan living in Zimbabwe. Although my sister later migrated to Australia, her friend remained behind.
She was not related to us by blood, and she was not legally our responsibility. She was simply a young person who needed support, guidance, stability and care.
Without hesitation, my mother welcomed her into our home. She treated her as one of her own children, gave her a place at our table and included her in our family. She provided encouragement when life was difficult and support when opportunities seemed out of reach.
My mother never spoke about helping others as though it was something extraordinary. For her, it was simply the right thing to do. Compassion was not something she talked about; it was something she lived every day through her actions.
Growing up, I watched her open her heart and her home to someone who needed a family. That experience changed the way I viewed the world and shaped my understanding of what it truly means to care for others.
It taught me that family is not only defined by blood. Family is also defined by love, compassion, sacrifice and the willingness to show up for people when they need you most. It is about creating a sense of belonging for those who may feel they have none and reminding them that they are valued, seen and cared for.
Watching my mother care for vulnerable young people showed me something incredibly powerful: a safe and loving home can change the direction of a person’s life.
When a child feels valued, they begin to believe in themselves. When a young person feels supported, they begin to imagine possibilities for their future. When a child feels safe, they are given the opportunity to heal, grow and thrive.
As I grew older, these experiences never left me. The dream of creating a children’s home stayed with me throughout school, adulthood, university and my professional career. It was not a passing idea or a childhood wish; it became a purpose that continued to grow stronger with time.
For many years, I told myself that I would start this home when I became a billionaire or when I had enough money to make it happen. Then I began asking myself difficult questions. What if I never become a billionaire? What if I never have that level of wealth? Would that mean vulnerable children never receive the support I dream of providing? Would that mean I never take action to create a safe home for children who need one?
The answer was no.
I realised that waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect amount of money or the perfect circumstances could mean waiting forever. A vision this important cannot depend solely on wealth. It depends on commitment, perseverance, community support and the willingness to start where you are with what you have.
That realisation changed my perspective. Instead of waiting until everything was in place, I chose to begin building the foundations now. Every step forward, no matter how small, brings this vision closer to reality.
Over the years I have worked with communities, families and young people from diverse backgrounds. I have seen the incredible resilience that young people possess, but I have also seen the challenges many face.
Some experience homelessness, abuse or neglect. Some grow up in unstable environments or live with disability. Some face poverty, barriers to education and limited opportunities. Others feel isolated, disconnected or unsupported. Many are forced to grow up far too quickly, carrying burdens that no child should have to carry.
I have also seen young people leave care systems at eighteen years old and suddenly be expected to navigate adulthood alone. At an age when many of their peers still rely on family guidance and support, they are often left to face life’s challenges without the safety net that so many others take for granted.
Through these experiences, I came to realise something important.
Many young people are not lacking potential. They are lacking support, stability and opportunities. Most importantly, they are lacking people who genuinely believe in them and who are willing to stand beside them through both the challenges and the successes.
This understanding became the foundation of St Victoria Children’s Home.
Children need more than shelter. They need belonging, trusted adults, encouragement, opportunities and consistency. They need people who continue to show up, especially when life becomes difficult. They need environments where they feel safe enough to be children, where they can learn, grow and dream without constantly worrying about where they will sleep, what they will eat or whether they will have someone to turn to when they need help.
Most of all, they need a place where they know they matter.
St Victoria Children’s Home was created from this belief.
Our long-term vision is to establish family-style residential homes where vulnerable children and young people can experience safety, stability, meaningful relationships and opportunities to thrive.
We envision homes that truly feel like homes. Places where children are known by name, where birthdays are celebrated, where achievements are recognised and where every child feels valued and included. Places where children are listened to, supported and encouraged, and where young people can build confidence, develop life skills and create brighter futures for themselves.
We believe every child deserves access to education, mentoring, wellbeing support, community participation and opportunities that help them reach their full potential. We believe support should not stop when a young person turns eighteen, and that young people should continue to receive guidance and encouragement as they transition into adulthood.
We believe every child deserves someone who believes in them, especially when they struggle to believe in themselves.
Today, St Victoria Children’s Home is still in its establishment phase.
The residential homes have not yet been built, but the vision is already being brought to life.
Through community programs, youth empowerment initiatives, partnerships, leadership development opportunities and advocacy, we are laying the foundations for the future we hope to create. Every program we deliver, every partnership we build, every young person we support and every conversation we have brings us one step closer to that vision.
For me, St Victoria Children’s Home is more than an organisation.
It is a lifelong dream, a reflection of the compassion I witnessed growing up and a tribute to the values that shaped me. It is inspired by my mother’s example and the kindness she demonstrated through her actions. It is a commitment to creating opportunities for children and young people who may not always have had the support they deserve.
Most importantly, it is rooted in a simple belief: every child deserves the chance to be a child.
No child should have to spend their days worrying about where they will sleep that night. No child should have to wonder where their next meal will come from. No child should feel forgotten, unwanted or alone.
Every child deserves to feel safe.
Every child deserves to feel loved.
Every child deserves to feel valued.
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and dream.
Every child deserves a future filled with hope, possibility and opportunity.
And every child deserves a place to call home.
