Our
Impact
On a Mission
About 75 km northeast of East London, South Africa on a beautiful 135-acre hilltop property sits the Open Arms Home for Children. As an established non-profit organization in both South Africa and the USA, Open Arms provides love and security to orphaned, abandoned and abused children.
An Aerial View of Open Arms
We are committed to raising the children in our care to adulthood. Our model is to place 6-8 children in cottages with a permanent house mother or father. The children go to pre-school on our property and elementary, high school and college in the larger community. We aim to serve the whole child: developmentally, physically and spiritually.
We are a human service organization. As such, our children are served regardless of background, race, economic status or religion. Likewise, our donors come from all faiths and backgrounds, united in simple service to children in need.
God has blessed this project since its inception with caring donors, staff and volunteers. We feel privileged to carry out this important work.
LIKE OUR KIDS, WE KEEP GROWING!
Open Arms continues to grow, with more than 60 children in our care. Ten of these children are actively pursuing college degrees while others seek vocational and technical training. We continue to strive to produce educated, productive members of South African society!
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DIFFERENT SCHOOLS TO MAXIMIZE OUR CHILDREN’S POTENTIAL!
Open Arms’
Education
Open Arms On-Site Preschool
7 children attending ranging in age from 1-4
Komga Junior Pre-K and Kindergarten
3 children attending ages 4-6
Komga Junior Elementary School
There are 8 children in grades 1-7 at Komga Junior Elementary
Parklands School
There are 4 children ranging in ages from 6-18 that attend this special needs school in the city of East London
Post Secondary Education
There are 8 young adults going to college in nearby East London, while 4 students are attending either culinary institutes or beauty colleges. One student is pursuing a master’s degree in corporate communications in Cape Town while two other Open Arms young adults are currently freshmen at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Lilyfontein High School
There are 3 students attending this college preparatory school, one in 9th grade and 2 others in grade school
Montessori School
There are 8 children from Open Arms attending this school, ranging in age from 7 to 15.
St. Christopher’s High School
There are four children from Open Arms attending this school in King William’s Town.
In The Media
Nomination for an Invest in Other Award
See the nomination video here for Bob Solis.
Bob’s Personal Blog
Kept during his 700-mile walk across South Africa
Benilde-St. Margaret’s Crown & Shield Article
An article from 2009 about Bob’s 700-mile walk across South Africa
AZ Giving & Leading:
Open Arms Home for Children - A feature interview of Bob Solis that aired on Arizona PBS.
