Rosie Mashale is founder and managing director of Baphumelele, a South African organization that provides various levels of care for more than 5,000 children in desperate need. Many of the children are ill or have lost their parents to AIDS. Mashale's efforts have landed her on the list of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fspecials%2Fcnn-heroes">top 10 CNN Heroes of 2017</a>. Click through the gallery for more information and photos.
Rosie Mashale is founder and managing director of Baphumelele, a South African organization that provides various levels of care for more than 5,000 children in desperate need. Many of the children are ill or have lost their parents to AIDS. Mashale's efforts have landed her on the list of top 10 CNN Heroes of 2017. Click through the gallery for more information and photos.
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Caring is in "Mama Rosie's" bones. A former schoolteacher, she opened a free daycare center in her Cape Town, South Africa home when she witnessed children playing in a nearby dump.
Caring is in "Mama Rosie's" bones. A former schoolteacher, she opened a free daycare center in her Cape Town, South Africa home when she witnessed children playing in a nearby dump.
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Healthy meals, needed medications and education are keys to helping the children in Baphumelele's care reach their potential.
Healthy meals, needed medications and education are keys to helping the children in Baphumelele's care reach their potential.
Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images for CNN
Many of the children who come to Baphumelele have been abandoned, and reinforcing living skills is essential for preparing them for independence. A program for older children addresses those needs. "That's the reason that we are teaching them skills -- they learn how to plant their own vegetables, how to write their own resumes, work etiquette, computer training," Mashale said.
Many of the children who come to Baphumelele have been abandoned, and reinforcing living skills is essential for preparing them for independence. A program for older children addresses those needs. "That's the reason that we are teaching them skills -- they learn how to plant their own vegetables, how to write their own resumes, work etiquette, computer training," Mashale said.
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The children must not forget to have fun while they're learning. Mashale takes care to provide lots of love, too, and remind those in her care that they are worth the effort. "Everybody has got a dream, and my wish is for their dream to be fulfilled."
The children must not forget to have fun while they're learning. Mashale takes care to provide lots of love, too, and remind those in her care that they are worth the effort. "Everybody has got a dream, and my wish is for their dream to be fulfilled."
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Some children live at Baphumelele's facilities (pictured) while Mashale and her team venture out to visit other "child-headed households" where young people live on their own.
Some children live at Baphumelele's facilities (pictured) while Mashale and her team venture out to visit other "child-headed households" where young people live on their own.
Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images for CNN
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, estimates that there are 3.7 million orphans in South Africa. About half of them have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, estimates that there are 3.7 million orphans in South Africa. About half of them have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images for CNN
Mashale still runs a daycare center, where the parents of Khayelitsha township leave their children in the care of Baphumelele while they work. Mama Rosie is always looking out for the neighborhood.
Mashale still runs a daycare center, where the parents of Khayelitsha township leave their children in the care of Baphumelele while they work. Mama Rosie is always looking out for the neighborhood.
Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images for CNN