“I am 27 years old now because Key of Hope came”
- Liyanda
Mission
Our mission is to reach and rescue children affected by poverty and AIDS with the hope found in Jesus Christ through long-term mentoring relationships.
Vision
We seek to unlock the future of Africa by raising up children as leaders who will influence their families and communities, and impact the world for Christ.
Our Core Values
We are guided by our discipleship approach based on Matthew 28:19-20:
Heart: giving children emotional support through mentoring relationships at home visits.
Soul: teaching children about who Jesus is and how the Gospel impacts their life at our Kidz Klub, Youth Night, and devotions.
Mind: providing children’s school fees, uniforms, and transportation to receive tutoring at our Hope Academy program.
Strength: nourishing and strengthening children with food parcels and our Sports programs.
“Let the children come to me.”
— Jesus
Our History
After more than ten years serving at The Power Company Kids Club since its founding, Dan and Rachel Smither felt that God was calling them to begin a unique ministry to children in the worst AIDS affected area in the entire world: Durban, South Africa. Based on the power of long term mentoring relationships and the language of music to communicate the truths of the Gospel, the dream to reach thousands of children affected by AIDS was born.
Key of Hope was formed in January 2007, and fundraising began in earnest. Dan and Rachel sold their house, cars, and furniture, and made a trip to Durban to begin making arrangements for housing, school for their girls, and other essentials. One year later, in January 2008, they stepped off a plane onto the runway at Durban International Airport with 16 suitcases and clear vision of what God had assigned them to accomplish.
Relocating to a developing African nation known as the crime capital of the world was not an easy transition to make. Safety was a major concern in a country ranked in the top three in the world for murder, kidnapping, robbery, assault, and rape. Overcoming racism was also a hurdle, in a country with a long history of white oppression, racial violence, and political corruption.
Slowly, with each relationship built, inroads were made into these areas. The work literally began with one child in one squatter camp, and has grown steadily from there. Key of Hope now operates with a staff of 42, ministering in over a dozen different slums with 2,500 children being visited at home each week.
