About Us
Getting this right matters. Each child matters.
Eden House is being built carefully and transparently – able to last. Strong governance is not an add-on for us — it is where we start. That is why we chose to register as an NPC - the structure with the strongest legal framework - to ensure that clear governance, accountability and oversight is built in from the beginning. Children need assured stability, not just good intentions.
Eden House Knysna NPC is registered with independent, unrelated directors and members, bringing experience in organisational governance, finance, child protection and statutory care, and operations. This helps ensure that decisions are considered, and that responsibility is shared.
Our directors:
Lucia Huyser, Chairperson. Lucia is a SAICA-registered Chartered Accountant with an MCom in Tax. She has served as the Financial Manager of a business she helped establish for more than 25 years. In addition, she has almost a decade of experience in NPO governance as a board member.
Philip Wessels is a retired Chartered Accountant and highly respected banking executive with decades of senior leadership experience at Nedbank, where he served in executive roles including Managing Executive: Retail & Business Banking and Chief Risk Officer.
Pierre Gouws, Finance Director. Pierre is a Chartered Accountant and owner of Southern Right Financial Services in Knysna.
Hilde Hay, Managing Director. Hilde is a research psychologist who has specialised in training programme development and facilitation. She currently dedicates all her working time to leading the process of laying the organisation's foundation.
Our other team members:
Nicola Arend has a background in forensic psychology, and experience in working with traumatised children. She has served on the board of FAMSA for several years. Nicola consults in her own private practice, she volunteers for FAMSA, and also mentors Child and Youth Care workers.
Vickey du Toit and Kim Spencer are dedicated members of our team whose passion and commitment play an important role in advancing our fundraising efforts.
We are deliberately putting the children at the core of everything we do.
To ensure good care, Eden House is being built on:
strong governance and independent oversight
• clear accountability from the outset
• a trauma-informed approach to care
• consistent, relationship-based support for children
• collaboration with DSD and the wider care network
• partnership with the community and Knysna organisations
A registered Child and Youth Care Centre
Eden House will register as a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) with the Department of Social Development. This requires compliance with the Children's Act, POPIA, labour legislation, and the many operational standards governing CYCCs. Registration also gives us access to government subsidies, which will form a useful, though non-essential part of our long-term funding model. Once registered, the Department conducts regular audits to ensure that children receive good care. Such compliance, accountability, and independent oversight provide the strongest possible basis for long-term sustainability.
Our vision:
At Eden House, every vulnerable child is seen and supported towards physical health and security, with the opportunity to feel safe, valued, and able to grow, learn, and connect.
