Ladies of Hope

Ladies of Hope was not born from a boardroom or a business plan. It began over twenty years ago when Myrtle Williams — born and raised in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg — gathered a small group of interdenominational women and started going from house to house, praying for the sick and the elderly. She had grown up watching Ennerdale's struggles and had spent years travelling, always longing to see her community rise. "My community was broken and was in need of dire help," she has said, "and that's where I decided to take action." What started with prayer has grown into a registered NPO providing comprehensive community care across multiple domains — all from a base in Mid-Ennerdale.

Corporate partners who have visited Ladies of Hope have returned describing "strong, intelligent and organised women, who have the passion to make a difference in their community." They are registered with the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa and are a full member of the Association of Palliative Care Centres.

What They Offer Survivors, Patients, and Communities

GBV Shelter for Women and Children Ladies of Hope has opened a dedicated house for women and children affected by gender-based violence — a critical addition to the Ennerdale and south Johannesburg area, where domestic violence and community violence are pervasive. The shelter provides safe accommodation for women and children escaping abuse, alongside care and support services.

8-Bed Inpatient Hospice Facility Ladies of Hope operates an 8-bed registered inpatient hospice facility staffed by professional clinical staff — providing palliative care to patients in the final stages of illness, with a focus on dignity, comfort, and compassion.

Home-Based Care — 180+ Patients Per Week Beyond the inpatient unit, Ladies of Hope's clinical team conducts home-based care visits for over 180 patients weekly in Ennerdale and surrounding areas — including bathing, cleaning, and feeding assistance for those unable to care for themselves, daily check-ups for bedridden patients, and personalised comfort and dignity care. This extended reach into the community ensures that vulnerable, isolated patients are not left without support.

Feeding Scheme A regular feeding scheme provides meals to individuals and families in need across the Ennerdale community — addressing food insecurity as both a standalone need and as a prerequisite for the effectiveness of medical treatment and recovery.

Training Centre — Skills Development A fully equipped training centre provides skills development programmes, mentorship, and practical learning — equipping community members (particularly women) with tools for personal growth and economic self-sufficiency.

Organic Vegetable Garden An organic vegetable garden produces fresh food for the feeding scheme's children — a practical, sustainable response to food insecurity that also creates therapeutic green space and a sense of community ownership.

Salvage Shop A salvage shop at the corner of Percy and 2nd Avenue provides quality second-hand goods to the community at low prices — generating income for the NPO while providing affordable resources to Ennerdale residents.

Buy-a-Brick Campaign An ongoing fundraising campaign enables donors to contribute directly to building hope, dignity, and opportunity — with each brick representing a tangible contribution to the physical infrastructure that supports all of Ladies of Hope's services.

Adolescent and Drug Support Ladies of Hope also works with teenagers addicted to drugs — one of the acute community challenges in Ennerdale, and one that is closely linked to both GBV and family breakdown.

Ladies of Hope: 243 6th Avenue, Mid-Ennerdale, Johannesburg. Phone: 010 230 0040. Email: Info@ladiesofhope.co.za. Facebook: Ladies of Hope. EFT donations: Standard Bank acc. 243261683.