Lives transformed
These are not just stories. They are evidence of God's faithfulness, multiplied through the hands of those who dared to give what little they had.
Personal journeys
Every person who has walked through our doors carries a story of courage. These are their own words — letters written, signed, and given freely — testifying to the faithfulness of God and the work of this ministry.
"I can honestly say Zoé Huis saved my life in many ways. This house is not only a Safe Haven for stranded girls and women — it is a place of healing and restoration."
August 2017 I was left stranded and homeless, 17 weeks pregnant. My aunt contacted Pauli Koch and I was welcomed into Zoé Huis. Zoé Huis was my grace period. I healed so many past traumas and I kept my son. Every step of the way I was supported and accounted for. When I first came I did not have my driver's licence — they paid for my lessons. I now live independently with my two boys, have my own car and a 2-bedroom unit. My life has completely changed. From coming here as a very broken and scared woman to an independent working single parent. Pauli Koch has become like a mother to me and to many other girls as well. So much gratitude for Zoé Huis — they truly empower so many lives, from ashes to beauty.
I have known Tannie Pauli since 2013 when her NPC, 5Plus2 Ministries, started sponsoring my high school boarding fees, school clothing, cosmetics, stationery and ensuring that I was well fed both at boarding school and at home during school holidays. I was one of dozens of primary and high school learners sponsored by her NPC at the time.
5Plus2 Ministries continued sponsoring me post matric and empowered me by providing a part-time admin job at the organisation so that I could be independent. In 2020, I started living with Tannie Pauli's family — that is when I truly got to know her personally. I got to see first-hand the "behind the scenes" of charitable work. Alongside providing food parcels to underprivileged families, Tannie Pauli is also a dutiful foster mother, showing unconditional motherly love to all the children she has fostered.
"You just need to have faith — faith like a mustard seed." This is what Tannie Pauli would say to me on a regular basis. With non-profits, needs often outweigh resources available, but she always trusted God to provide — and she continues to do so to this day. She also taught me to speak life, and that laughter is a powerful weapon against depressive thoughts. I laughed more in the year I lived in the Koch home than in my entire upbringing.
I am now a successful working professional, due to Tannie Pauli allowing Abba Father to use her as an instrument to open doors to my current success. She always treated us according to the potential she saw in us, no matter the mistakes we made or how often we would fall short. I pray that the Lord continues to strengthen Tannie Pauli so that she never grows weary in doing good.
I have known Pauli Koch since the year 2000 and have had the privilege of working with her during these years. Through these years Pauli has supported and assisted so many in our community — she is a well-known name.
Pauli has always had a heart for the underprivileged. In her years of ministry, her energy has been to supply the physical needs of thousands of people, whether young or old, no matter the race — according to her means. Whether that entailed giving a poor school child lunch, supplying school uniforms for hundreds of children, taking pregnant teenagers to hospitals, delivering help to those who have been traumatised, or taking care of babies due to the age of their moms and their postnatal emotional dips. Training them how to look after their infants. (Pauli is a registered Medical Midwife and sister.) Many of these moms are now stable and working, and their children are in school.
Paying for children's after-school care so they could do homework and eat lunch. Paying for high school students' boarding accommodation because their parents had no transport. Feeding families by the dozens — even those who live in cars. Doing wound care for the elderly at her own cost. These are insights into the daily life of Pauli.
If all the testimonies had to be written, they would fill book loads. And every testimony of thousands of people would come to the same conclusion: this tender- and soft-hearted lady has worked deep prints in our most vulnerable communities. Even the local churches sent their poor to her. Pauli is greatly loved.
Ek Ansie Swartz is in 2009 aangestel as skoolhoof by Skeerpoort Primary School — 'n "Section 21" skool waar die leerders nie skoolgeld betaal nie. Die leerders is van 2 informele nedersettings: Shumbuch en Orange Farm. Hulle was baie arm, honger, en koud in die winter. In totaal was daar plus minus 300 leerders in die skool.
Toe ek daar aangestel is as hoof was dit 'n baie moeilike tyd — die fondse was min. En toe stuur die Here vir ons 'n Engel om te help: PAULI KOCH! Sy het net een dag by die skool aangekom en haar hulp aan gebied. Sy het die gemeenskap van Harties genader — boere, winkeleienaars, slaghuiseienaars, bestuurders van winkels — om kos in te samel vir die skool. Haar organisering was 'n GROOT sukses!
Vir 6 JAAR kon ons elke dag vir plus minus 300 leerders vrugtesap, broodjies met grondbonebotter en 'n vrug gee om te eet, en 1 uur het die leerders 'n lekker bord warm, gesonde kos gekry. Elke vakansie het Pauli Koch gesorg dat 300 leerders elkeen 'n pakkie kos kry — rys, mieliemeel, tee, poeiermelk, suiker, blikkieskos, broodmeel, olie. Vir die winter het sy gesorg dat elke leerder 'n warm trui, kouse, en 'n kombers kry.
Pauli het ook gehelp dat Quintin Motebele — 'n leerder wat goed presteer het — 'n beurs kon kry by Hartbeespoort Hoërskool asook koshuisverblyf vir 5 jaar. Hy het matriek geslaag met universiteitstoelating. Ons het hom gehelp om by die Universiteit van Pretoria in te skryf. Hy het 'n graad in Landbou verwerf en is as plaasbestuurder aangestel op Levubu.
DANKIE PAULI vir jou onbaatsugtige liefde! Mag die Here jou seën met sy groot liefde en genade!
The moment I walked in, I was welcomed as family — Mother and Sister — with great love and acceptance. I was over 30 weeks pregnant and needing a home to heal and rest for my soul, Spirit, Body and mind.
House of Zoé has brought me great joy, laughter and love, and comfort when moments seemed unbearable. House of Zoé has brought Brooklyn — my daughter, now almost 3 months — and myself a roof over our heads, a pillow to rest our heads on and food in our stomachs. For this I am eternally grateful.
I have shown growth in character and strength I never found before. One seems to find comfort to allow oneself to be reassured and calmed by the love for me and Brooklyn in this house — House of Zoé.
You have made me smile once more. You have made me understand: I can be loved. Thank you.
Ek wil graag my innige dankbaarheid en waardering uitspreek teenoor Pauli Koch — 'n buitengewone vrou met 'n hart vol omgee en mededeelsaamheid. Sy het my en my vier kinders in 'n baie moeilike tyd in ons lewens bygestaan, en ons 'n veilige hawe gebied by Zoé Huis.
Pauli het nie net vir ons 'n dak oor ons koppe gegee nie — sy het ons versorg met liefde, respek en menswaardigheid. Haar onbaatsugtige diens en betrokkenheid by vroue en kinders in nood maak haar 'n ligdraer in die donkerste tye. Sy bied nie net fisiese ondersteuning nie, maar ook emosionele en geestelike bystand — en sy doen dit met soveel geduld, deernis en liefde.
Ek en my kinders sal haar altyd onthou as iemand wat ons hoop gegee het toe alles verlore gelyk het. Haar werk maak 'n werklike verskil in mense se lewens — ek en my kinders is een van baie wat daarvan kan getuig.
From the heart
Some testimonies arrive not as formal letters but as notes written by hand — from children, from young women who found their words in the quiet of a room at Zoé House. We treasure every one.
Seer hartjie, seer lyfie — 'n selfoonoproep wat sê: "Suster Koch, help..." Of dalk spring hulle oor die muur. Snot en trane kan skaars praat. Kry 'n koppie tee en plak 'n pleister op die eina. Wag vir die blou plek om gesond te word. Maak gou 'n bed op en koop die nodige behoeftes. Kook gou tuisgemaakte kos en maak die pasiënt tuis.
Loon liefde en omgee om die hartjie te dokter. Net soos met enige siekte identifiseer ons die seer. Medisyne is die Here se liefde en sy genade strek ver. Stadig maar verseker word hulle gesond. Heel hartjie, heel lyfie. Tyd om weer te probeer — kry werk, huis of hartjie.
Met 'n traan of twee terug in die wêreld in. Die Kochs Hospitaal is te gelukkig — hulle het dié pasiënt gered. Maar voor jy weet is daar weer seer hartjie, seer lyfie. Hier kom nog 'n pasiënt.
Baie dankie vir als. Dankie dat tannie ons in tannie se huis in geneem het — ek waardeer dit regtig baie. Dankie dat tannie omgee. Dit is baie lekker by tannie.
Tannie is my inspirasie wat my altyd beter laat voel. En as ek altyd na tannie kyk, sien ek Jesus binne tannie. En as ek naby tannie is, voel ek liefde en vreugde. Dis altyd lekker vir my om naby tannie te wees.
Dankie dat tannie nog nie opgegee het met my nie. Ek wens om ook eendag soos tannie te wees — liedevol en help ander. Ek is baie bly dat tannie in my lewe is. Tannie is 'n wonderlike mens.
Hope · Faith · Love · Peace · God bless you tannie
Program impact
For over 16 years, volunteers have risen early to pack bags of nutritious food distributed across the Hartbeespoort valley. At just R2 per meal, this simple act of faithfulness has fed thousands of families. "Seeing those bags go out — that is the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, right in our hands," says Pauli Koch.
When a young man named Quintin Motebele showed potential but had no means to complete his schooling, Five Plus Two stepped in — covering boarding fees for five years at Hartbeespoort Hoërskool. He matriculated with university admission, earned a degree in Agriculture from TUT, and is today a farm manager. Five others have followed similar paths.
After 12 annual events, Children's Day has become a highlight on the ministry calendar. Children from vulnerable households arrive to receive a Bible-verse t-shirt, a KFC meal, and a bucket of sweets — but what they truly take home is the knowledge that someone sees them, values them, and loves them.
Through the after-school sponsorship program, 17 children currently attend a registered care facility each afternoon — receiving homework support, a nutritious meal, and a nurturing environment. For their mothers, many of whom are rebuilding their lives, this care is not just practical. It is life-giving peace of mind.
Join the story
Every rand given, every hour volunteered, and every prayer offered adds to these testimonies. Your generosity is the next chapter.