The third home to be opened, in April 2008, was Joshua House. The spacious and comfortable house is positioned within a gated community in Hillcrest. The newly built five-bedroom home includes an open plan living area which is very conducive to raising a large family. There is a lovely large garden which is perfect for the six children to enjoy.

Shane and Lara Whittaker are the loving parents at Joshua House. The couple have two young children of their own and have embraced the rewarding role of foster parenting and extending their own family. Lara, the efficient PA to iThemba Chairman, Danie van den Heever, is a key member of the team, as an administrator and loving mother. She has a background in nursing, prior to joining the iThemba family.

Shane is a positive father figure to the children and makes every effort to monitor each child's progress. He gave up his business in transport to take on a more full-time father role in the household and volunteers his time to see that the campus grounds are attended to.

"We are young parents who are passionate about families and have a common vision to see the Fathers' heart being restored in families and felt a calling to work with AIDS orphans," said Lara. "We were relief parents at one stage and when the opportunity was offered to parent the third house we took up the calling."

The Children