Every action, no matter how small can start something good.
How Kindling Began
Kindling Foundation began in 2010 with a chance meeting at Melbourne Airport.
Heidi, a flight attendant, was at the airport on a work trip when she met a friend of Maria Gaba’s. In a brief conversation, Maria’s story was shared -a woman in Windmill Park, South Africa, caring for children who had nowhere else to go. At the time, Maria and 38 children were living in a small shack. Food was scarce. Safety was fragile.
Maria often brought home food scraps from plates at her workplace so the children could eat. Having survived abuse and neglect herself, she felt a deep responsibility to protect the children she had taken in from the streets.
Heidi visited Maria during that trip. What she saw stayed with her.
Soon after, Jen visited too. Together with their friend JT, they wanted to help in practical, immediate ways. They created a small grassroots group called African Smiles, encouraging friends and colleagues travelling to Johannesburg to carry donations with them - clothes, food, books, and essential supplies - and deliver them directly to Maria and the children. There were no systems. No funding models. Just people showing up.
When flights from Australia to Johannesburg eventually stopped, the connection did not. Jen later returned with her friend Grant. Seeing Maria, the children, and the community firsthand, Grant committed to helping grow the work into something more sustainable.
Together, they continued supporting Maria as the community evolved. Vegetable gardens were planted. Sewing rooms were established. A community centre, crèche and safe housing followed. What began as survival slowly became stability. To protect the work and ensure it could continue with integrity, Jen and Grant formally registered Kindling Foundation as a charity in Australia and South Africa.
Today, Maria leads a strong, self-driven community in Windmill Park. Children are fed, safe, sheltered and attending school.
Kindling exists to support Maria’s leadership and the community’s direction.
We listen.
We support.
We follow the community’s lead.
What makes us so different
100% of donations go to the projects
Since Kindling began in 2010, 100% of all donations have gone directly to community projects and schooling.
The Kindling team is made up entirely of volunteers. Each person involved gives their time freely and covers their own costs to travel to and from South Africa to visit Maria and the community. All operational and administrative costs - including website hosting, registrations, and other behind-the-scenes expenses - are paid for by the team themselves.
This means every dollar donated goes exactly where it’s needed most. It’s a commitment we’ve held from the beginning, and one we continue to honour - ensuring care stays direct, transparent, and grounded in trust.
Local Leadership
Kindling exists to support community-led change. Maria and the Windmill Park community guide the priorities - we simply walk beside them. We listen first, then respond.
Long-Term Commitment
Kindling is built on 15 years of consistent presence, trust, and shared responsibility. Change takes time - and we honour that.
Real Relationships
Our work is grounded in real human connection. We know the names, the stories, the challenges, and the strengths of the community we support
Why Kindling
Kin
Our family. Our tribe.
We believe we are one.
Kind
Big-hearted.
Because we are able, we enable.
Kindling
Start something good.
A small spark - a chance conversation - became change beyond our dreams.
Kindling is inner light shared.
When we give, your world becomes illuminated.
