Our House
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) South Africa is a “home away from home” that keep families close. Providing a homely and inviting place to stay for parents, guardians, carers and their siblings while their sick or injured child is receiving treatment in hospital.
Part of what makes our House unique is that families are able to benefit from the compassionate support of our volunteers and staff, and the companionship of other families who are navigating a similar journey.
We provide care, compassion, hope and love to families of critically ill children treated in hospital.
Tour Our House
Our 27 standard family bedrooms are like a hotel room in design and are equipped with a queen size bed, as well as a full en suite bathroom. Each room has linens and cupboards.
When children must travel long distances to access top medical care, accommodations become necessary for families and can be expensive or not readily available. The House provides families with accommodation and compassionate care at little or no cost. No family is turned away because of the inability to donate.
Helping families stay close to their critically ill or injured children enables family-centred care by increasing the ability of parents to spend more time with children receiving hospital care, interact with their clinical care providers and participate in care decisions. It also helps improve the overall healthcare experience of these families and paediatric patients.
The first house in Sub-Saharan Africa launched in 2017
The first Ronald McDonald House was launched in April 2017. It is located at the top of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital and provides accommodation, hope, care and compassion to hundreds of families of sick children receiving specialised treatment each year.
The House includes a kitchen, dining room, library, meditation room, kids’ playroom, tv room and lounges. Published research shows that the Ronald McDonald House helps families cope better and focus on the needs of their sick child due to the support they receive from staff, volunteers and other families staying alongside them at the House.
“We provide accommodation for families with sick children to stay at little to no cost while their child is receiving critical medical care at the hospital.”
Sphiwe Reginald Skhosana
Founding Board Chairman of RMHC South Africa
Families who stay at Our House
Live a minimum distance of 60 km away from the House.
Are parents/legal guardians of a child, 18 years of age or younger, receiving medical treatment for a life-threatening or serious illness at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH)
Have a referral from Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital and complete an application form.