Beth Uriel - House of Light

Beth Uriel is a registered not for profit organisation
003-427 NPO

Home to 26 previously disadvantaged young men between the ages of 16 and 24, Beth Uriel, "House of Light" is committed to the passionate pursuit of independence for each of our family members. With Christian principles and family values at our core, the Beth Uriel family is dedicated to creating opportunities for those who would otherwise have none. Wrestling with issues of poverty, lack of education and the affects of HIV and AIDS on youth, Beth Uriel aspires to offer comprehensive care in every aspect of our program.

Life at Beth Uriel is much like any family. There's a lot of healthy discipline, school is a priority and the family relaxes together plenty. The guys do duties, celebrate birthdays, go on holiday outings and go to church together every week.

As it is the desire of the home to be "the light of God" in a difficult world, Beth Uriel is run on Christian principles and lots of prayer!
Family pic

Heading up the family is American social worker, Lindsay Henley (pictured below, right), whom the guys call, "Magogo" (Grandmother).

She laughs that she's the only girl her age she knows with 26 grandchildren. Her great sense of humour keeps Beth Uriel going.

Working alongside her are cook Ruwayda (left of photo), and house manager, Nosipho (center of photo), who have been with the home for about a decade.

Where we've come from...

Beth Uriel (which means "House of Light" in Hebrew) was started in 1987. It grew out a vision of Angela La Grange and Hudson McComb - to show compassion and God's love to the troubled children of Cape Town. "Mama Angela" and Hudson welcomed up to 40 children at a time off the streets and out of troubled homes.

Boys and girls of all races were invited to come and stay in the old Fire Station, which became the Beth Uriel home. Great work was done in the lives of these children and even the Apartheid government turned a blind eye to the rainbow mix of children within the house because they saw such miracle life changes come out of the "House of Light".

Over time, Beth Uriel moved their focus to older teenage boys. Young men in their mid-teens were at the stage where they wanted to make a change in their lives - a change for the better. Their maturity added to the success of the house.

Where we are going...

In pursuit of independence, Beth Uriel desires to give each and every young man that comes through its doors quality educational opportunities at both the secondary and tertiary levels. Taking its focus from job placement to "career placement" it is hoped that while at Beth Uriel each young man will begin walking down a life path that will create successful opportunities for them long beyond their time at the home.

Our family at 289 Victoria Road will stay much the same size-not growing beyond 26, as we desire to keep a personal atmosphere in our home. However, God continues to grow our extended family every year. Family members that move on and volunteers both locally and overseas keep us growing in every direction... we are indeed a global family!