Projects
South Africa:
Door of Hope, Johannesburg
This project was set up due to the realisation of the sheer number of babies that were being abandoned in the city of Johannesburg. It runs several houses of safety and also puts a large number of babies for adoption. It also has a website up and running that will be ale to tell much more.
Sethani, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Sethani was set up in 2002 by a local pastor and social worker. They have registered as a Section 21 Company (not for profit) and as such fall under the Company's Act which means they need audited books, a structured board of directors etc.
They do not want to grow too much but would prefer to try and do what they are presently doing as well as is possible. This is probably because Sethani are a community based organisation (CBO). As such it works with the local rural community which is governed by a chief and where land is communal and all decisions are made communally. It is very sensitive working in such communities and if mistakes are made the whole project can fail.
Here is their vision: To transform a section of Kwa-Ngcolosi through the power of Christ by developing a lifestyle of work, prayer and giving. Through outside funding they are building a resource centre/library where they will run education courses, life skills, training, counselling, link up with other NGO's etc. All of which will empower this impoverished community where AIDS is getting worse by the day.
So at present their projects are: the orphan outreach (supporting children in school with their educational needs), Bongimpilo Creche which we opened and are assisting daily with food, equipment, teachers etc, Youth Harvest Outreach camps, workshops, buzz groups and sports days are arranged where we expose the children to the gospel in a fun way. The resource centre is proposed and so is a baby day care centre (caring for babies of sick mothers during the day when others in the family are at work and school). For more information see their own website
Sunny-Side, Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal
The Boakes are a truly amazing family who have recognised the extreme need of orphans and children who have been abandoned. Colin and Pam work nonstop (literally) to look after approximately 15 children. Here is the Boakes family newsletter…
"Twenty years ago we sent in an appliction for a receptionist post within a welfare organisation in Pietermaritzburg. Six weeks later, after several interviews, we were asked to consider foster care instead. We had never heard about it. Much discussion followed between husband, wife and four beautiful healthy teenagers. Six weeks later a beautiful young girl and her new baby became part of our new family. This was the beginning of a new life for us all, not always easy. God's plan for our family went into action equipping us as a couple with love, patience and understanding for those in need. Our home then became a 'place of safety' for pre-adoption babies and then for abandoned, abused and in later years children with HIV.
This our 20th year with our extended family and to date we have cared for 237 children. We have seen much inflicted pain and suffering - innocent children beaten and broken from very early ages. Babies born to alcoholics and drug addicts and suffering withdrawal for months. Pacing the lounge into the wee small hours until their bodies relax. The challenge of caring for a tiny baby with brittle bone disease, who at the age of 5, has had 36 fractures. A beautiful child who has inspired many with her big, smile, lovely voice and in spite of being unable to walk, has sunny nature and is my shadow. Watching tiny children dying from AIDS is a sad time for us all and to date many of our little ones have passed on. One of our great challenges is a little boy, now 4, who at 9 months was beaten with a cricket bat. This resulted in severe brain damage and he is no longer able to move, swallow or see. To cope with this type of situation is difficult and we do not do it in our own strength. We have a suction pump working day and night as he has a tracheotomy and tube into his tummy for feeding. 24-hour care is needed and Colin and I take turns. At present we have 3 girls at a primary school, 4 at a play school and then 5 babies at home. The eldest is 12 and the youngest is 7 weeks. We have a contented, beautiful baby of 3 months with full-blown AIDS. Our days are busy as Colin and I have no full time assistance. We feel extremely privileged to be caring for these children and we thank God for the strength and health to cope.
What has happened to all our children? Many have been adopted, fostered, died from AIDS, or returned to their natural parents. The first baby placed with us is almost 21 and very much part of our family. She is a beautiful girl with a heart for children and a great joy to us. She is about to leave for Holland to Au pair. 20 years being exposed to so much pain and suffering but God is good and enables us to remember and cherish good times and many 'smiley' faces."
The Christmas Project was able to donate £1000 to Sunnyside, which helped out with running costs, especially with expensive medicines. Please remember this amazing family in your prayers.
God's Golden Acre, Kwa-Zulu Natal
We previously supported this project but feel that now it is well esablished and very well funded from other, much larger, bodies we can move onto other more community based projects.
For more information on God's golden Acre go to either of these sites:
south african site
english site
Little Angels, Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Again this is a project that we previously gave to. Unfortunately it went under some management changes and we lost touch through the process but here is last years report (so you know where your money went to).
Little Angels is described as a place of safety, that is a place were abused or abandoned children can be brought to be cared for before being adopted or fostered. Little Angels also functions as a hospice, with incredibly high rate of HIV/AIDS in Kwa-Zulu Natal, many children have been born with the disease.
I was given the pleasure of visiting this really happy home in the summer. The children were overwhelmingly happy and well looked after, it was a real joy to see how faithful people are when God calls them to serve Him.
Little Angels employs around 7 people for the day-to-day care of the children, they also have many committed volunteers from the local area. This has huge impact on the children, they are truly loved. The focus on adoption is also fantastic; these children have a real opportunity to be brought into a family. Little Angels depends on donations. The Christmas Project was able to donate £1000 this year. That covered the costs of the home for 2 months and also enabled grave plots to be bought for the homes real little angels.