Our hard-working team of volunteers provides vital support in the Pre-discharge Nursery at Mowbray Maternity Hospital. Here, we care for up to 5 babies at a time.

While these babies are usually in good health, some may need help with certain social issues, before being discharged. Additionally, we may care for babies who are available for adoption, or whose mothers have been transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital due to complicated deliveries.

Mowbray Maternity Hospital embraces a mother-baby-friendly ethos, ensuring all babies are cared for on a 3-hour feeding schedule. Our volunteers work alongside the nursing staff, giving love, comfort, stimulation, massage, and soothing music. They also assist with practical tasks such as feeding and diaper changes, ensuring that these babies receive the best possible care during their stay.

The Kangaroo Mother Care Ward is a haven for mommies with babies born prematurely – weighing less than 1.75kg.

Here, mothers engage in round-the-clock skin-to-skin contact with their little ones, while exclusively breastfeeding. Their stay can range from a few days to several months.

During this period, The Zoe Project’s volunteers do activities like crafts, photo shoots, educational talks, and visits to the hospital garden. This has an immediate, and remarkable effect, leaving a lasting impact on both the mother and the baby.

Living in one of the Western Cape’s most gang-infested and poverty-stricken areas, places tremendous strain on pregnant mothers and their unborn babies. And often, The Zoe Centres stand as beacons of support and hope in communities.

Our trained counsellors tackle a wide range of social issues, including finding safe homes for mothers and children, walking a journey with a rape survivor, and providing education on sensitive topics such as abortion, adoption, and teenage pregnancies.

We work hand in hand with the Department of Social Services and other staff, empowering women to make positive choices for themselves and their families.

COVID-19 placed further burdens on pregnant mothers from other countries. Many found themselves in dire situations, unable to access food parcels due to lack of identification. As a Zimbabwean, my heart ached for these women in South Africa and my homeland, Zimbabwe. This led to the birth of “Zoe Zim.”

Four times a year, essential items such as cotton nappies, reusable sanitary pads, and Vaseline are sent by truck to Zimbabwe. Dedicated women then distribute these items, and provide valuable education on labour and birth to those who need it.

Nutritious meals are offered to moms at the MOUs, who need to stay longer than planned, or require food after labour.

Mothers giving birth at the maternity units usually have brief stays, but labour is an extremely demanding experience, and nourishment is essential. This project operates on the principle of supply and demand, and relies on your assistance to make it possible.