Dream Rooms

We hear about The Reach For A Dream Foundation’s latest project: Dream Rooms and how they are sanctuaries for children with life-threatening illnesses.

The Reach For A Dream Foundation initiative that was launched in 2018, Dream Rooms are dedicated spaces in hospitals for children who are facing life-threatening illnesses and undergoing treatment.

The Dream Rooms are sanctuaries for the brave children, from the ages of three to 18, and parents who need a safe place to relax in hospital and escape the clinical surroundings.

Families can spend time in bright and colourful areas that inspire hope and where children can experience the joy of being a child.

Due to Reach For A Dream’s knowledge of long-term chronically ill children and their families and what they go through, the foundation believes it’s imperative to create an inviting haven in all hospitals around the country.

“These magical rooms will be a component of healing and we have always believed in something like this. Belief and hope are integral ingredients for fighting life-threatening illnesses,” says Mervyn Serebro, Chairman for The Reach For A Dream Foundation.

The goal is to have 50 Dream Rooms at hospitals which provide critical care to children with life-threatening illnesses across South Africa.

Eight dream rooms up and running 

To date, The Reach For A Dream Foundation has proudly opened eight Dream Rooms at the following hospitals: 

• Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, JHB (two rooms)
• Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, JHB (two rooms)
• Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria 
• Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, JHB (two rooms)
• The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town. 

These Dream Rooms have been sponsored by Vukile Property Fund, Standard Bank, Comair Limited (Kulula), Emperors Palace, Big Concerts, Discovery Vitality, Ronald McDonald House and The Miller Family (in honour of Brian Miller) respectively. 

The Reach For A Dream Foundation will be opening three additional Dream Rooms by the end of 2019 and would like to thank the hospital staff, nurses and volunteers who assist them in making this a reality.

To support other Dream Rooms around the country, please contact Natalie Lazaris at [email protected].