Home of Peace Works to Support Mentally Ill in South Africa

Some residents of Ikhaya Loxolo color in, in an atmosphere of love and acceptance (VOA/Taylor)

The home’s director, Alex Gunther, applies for disability grants on behalf of her patients and keeps meticulous records (VOA/Taylor)

Young and old are welcome at Ikhaya Loxolo – the only facility for hundreds of miles that helps mentally ill people and their families (VOA/Taylor)

The home is in a particularly isolated and poor part of South Africa (VOA/Taylor)

Hobeni community elder Mama ka Blondie harvests beetroot from the Ikhaya Loxolo garden … She too believes that mentally disabled and ill people are bewitched…(VOA/Taylor)

Village sangoma, or traditional healer, Zwelisithile Bendlela, says evil spirits cause “mental problems” (VOA/Taylor)

The Ikhaya Loxolo compound in Hobeni district (VOA/Taylor)

Hobeni Xhosa chief, Patrick Fudumele (VOA/Taylor)

At Ikhaya Loxolo, mentally disabled people are provided with love and material things that they otherwise would never have received (VOA/Taylor)

Caregivers watch patients play a card game at Ikhaya Loxolo (VOA/Taylor)

A patient during a lesson at the home (VOA/ D. Taylor)

Patients are taught to look after themselves at Ikhaya Loxolo VOA/Taylor)

“Love” is Alex Gunther’s “central philosophy” at the home (VOA/Taylor)

Alex’s husband, Michael, an accomplished farmer, helps her to run Ikhaya Loxolo (VOA/Taylor)

At the home residents are taught very basic education (VOA/Taylor)

Patients are taught basic farming skills so that they’re able to provide food for themselves (VOA/Taylor)