Ronald McDonald House Charities™ (RMHC™) South Africa, a non-governmental, non-profit organization that creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children and their families.

RMHC™ South Africa was established in 2012 by a community of people, including McDonald’s and its owner/operators, who understood the need to improve the lives of children and their families during difficult times.

RMHC™ South Africa is a part of a global network of nearly 290 Chapters in more than 64 countries and regions. RMHC™ helps families by accommodating them near their critically ill and hospitalized child in a Ronald McDonald House®; providing a place for families to rest in a Ronald McDonald Family Room® in the hospital just steps from their sick child’s bedside; and providing healthcare services such as vaccinations, dental and optical services to vulnerable communities through a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. All RMHC™-operated and supported programs, enable family-centered care, provide a bridge to quality health care, are a vital part of the health care continuum and give children and families the time they need to cope better together.

In 2013, RMHC South Africa opened two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto. These Family Rooms have served more than 40 000 families to date.

The first Ronald McDonald House in Africa was launched at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Johannesburg, in April 2017.

Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for families with sick children to stay at little to no cost while their child is receiving critical medical care at the hospital. The families receive vital resources and support to enable them to effectively be involved in their children’s cae.

The new 27-bedroom Ronald McDonald House is located on the top floor of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. The House includes a kitchen, dining room, library, kids playroom, tv room, meditation room and teenage lounge. In addition to these amenities, published research shows the House helps families cope better and focus on the needs of their sick child because of the support they receive from staff, volunteers and other families staying alongside them at the House.

To learn more about RMHC™ South Africa and their programs, visit https://rmhcsouthafrica.org/