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During Apartheid, African Women in remote rural areas had limited access to proper medical care for delivery. Women gave birth at home. These could often lead to complications as there were no trained nurses to help them. It was during those difficult time when the Franciscan Sisters of Siessen thought of building maternity Home as part of thier mission to help the poor. The Sisters (Nuns) trained as Nurses and thus maternity was built. It was called Assisi Maternity Home. This home was established in 1952 as a Maternity Hospital. The first Sister working there was a German Sister (Sr. M. Regula). The place accepted women from Farms around Assisi and as far as Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba-Nchu, Ladybrand, Welkom and Lesotho. It was effective until 1994.

In 1994 ater South Africa gained Democratic Freedom, hospitals were opened for everybody. The Sisters realized that their mission is complete, then Maternity was closed. At first the place was used for giving life (new birth). It was also used as a Youth Centre for training such as retreats, workshops and Youth conferences. Now it is used for giving life again, to orphans and vulnerable children. The name BOPHELO is to give life.