Xmas cheer

The Xmas season brought us some good spirit and more happiness. First up we had staff from Build It come to the home to host a party with the children and hand out presents. 

Hands on Africa kindly donated some colourful t-shirts to all the children.

The children danced and enjoyed the holidays.

Hendrico made us all proud by winning the Junior Model of the Year in KZN at Summer Heat.

The children enjoying a nice break away, cooling off in KZN.

Our Talents

A photo of the Young Little Stars with Nate Butler from the US at the ARTS Johannesburg. Hendrico and Cecil have been invited as models to go to Florida in July 2017 as part of an International Talent showcase! 

The gumboot team put on a great performance and with some more time to develop their show they'll have a good chance of being invited too in 2018. They had very positive feedback from international judge Kim Myers and we are extremely proud of them. 

We are also looking for sponsors for Hendrico and Cecil as it will come to a large amount of R73,000 each to cover all their costs to attend the showcase. This is a huge opportunity for children from a children's home, boosting their self worth and confidence. It also inspires the others to do better and to be disciplined in what they can achieve. If anyone could find it in their hearts to help with sponsorship this could make dreams come true for these hard-working and ambitious children. Please can get in contact.

And here's the welcoming committee back at the home ready to celebrate the Little Stars return with some home made cakes.

Here's an example of the certificate each boy got for their involvement. Well done - a great achievement!

Building skills

Ashley and Hendrico volunteered to help with a building project at the home and have done a fantastic job, learning many new skills. They even completed the brick work themselves. Both of them want to own their own building company one day.

Capturing the Children's Energy

Here's a video produced by one our volunteers. Lots of singing, dancing and playtime in the house!

Capitec Birthday Party

The staff members of Capitec bank held a party for the children at Emmanuel on Saturday 13th August. It was the birthday of Ronaldo (one of the bank's employee's) so they decided to celebrate by sharing the occasion; setting up a jumping castle for the small ones and some lovely gift bags for all Emmanuel children. It was a team effort from all staff at Capitec Bank Middelburg. A heartwarming occasion - happy birthday Ronaldo!

Celebrating Women's Day on 9th August

The girls and care workers (Abigail and Bulelani) had great fun dressing up!

Mandela Day

The 'Young Little Stars' gumboot dancers performed at Huis Silverjare, an old age home in Midros, in aid of Mandela day on 18th July.

The Grootfontein cell group, led by Jon Manunu (a board member and part of the Family Church) blessed the children with song, prayer and some delicious cupcakes on Mandela Day; their contribution towards their 67 minutes.

Natasha from Kingdom Connexion in Port Elizabeth sent the children boxes with presents. Thanks to everyone who has been so thoughtful with the children and helped enriched their lives! Lots of smiles all round.

Donations and Fundraising

Donations and fundraising are so important to us and are a life-line to cover the daily expenses to improve and sustain the welfare of the children under our protection, and especially at this time when we are caring for a number of babies.

And now we have a special cause where we need your help: One of our remarkable children, Phelu, is to undergo an operation in October to repair her palate.  This procedure is so important as it will greatly improve her speech and with that, her life. Hands On Africa has committed to cover the medical costs for which we are so grateful. 

But this is where YOU can help: we need contributions to cover the travel costs to and from Cape Town and also for follow-up visits in the future. ‘Can you help with a donation to change a life’. Any gift big or small would be so greatly appreciated. Please contact Carol if you are able to donate.

Here is Phelu at the Grote Shur Hospital recently where she met with doctors and therapists.

Ashley visits Cape Town

Some photos of Ashley enjoying his visit to Cape Town where he stayed with his host family, Marius and Marthe. He had a great experience which he'll remember for a long time.

Young Little Stars lighting-up lives with Dance and Prayer

Here's an article on the success of our gumboot dancers and what it means for them. Have a look at the link:
http://gatewaynews.co.za/young-little-stars-lighting-up-lives-with-dance-and-prayer/

A small extract from the article:

Social worker at ECYCC, Xolani Numpume, who is the dancers’ mentor, says the entire experience has been an eye opener for him as he has witnessed the personal development in each of “The Young Little Stars” as they have had the chance to explore their potential and capabilities.

He says it has also been a lesson in discipline, not only for the gumboot dancing team, but for all the children at ECYCC who see the team practice seven-days-a-week between 3pm and 4pm.

“The experience has meant a lot in their lives and given them something to work towards. Every day they learn something new about themselves; not only about gumboot dancing but also about themselves as a people.”

Carol [the home's manager] says one of the most positive outcomes of “The Young Little Stars” has been how it has boosted each member’s confidence.

“I can see the growth in the dancers, they have developed a belief in themselves and that they are capable of succeeding. Their sense of self-worth has grown, which is something we are constantly challenged to work on with all the children at ECYCC.”

Riders Visit Home

The Empyrean riders visited the centre on Saturday 28 May handing some goody bags to the children, delicious soup and home made bread.  The children were pleased to see them and performed a gumboot dance in their honour.  It was a great day in the sunshine!

Our Talented Children

A group of our children auditioned in Port Elizabeth for the Summerheat Model and Talent Search. The gumboot dancers "The Young Little Stars" made it through to the Summerheat finals in Wild Coast Sun next year, as well as for Just You talent search in October at the IATS (The International ARTS Talent Showcase). This is an Annual Talent Showcase held in Johannesburg, which brings talent from all 9 provinces in South Africa to showcase their performance abilities for an opportunity to be scouted to represent South Africa at The Applause Rising Talent Showcase in Orlando Florida, USA. If they make it international artists will work with them in boot camp. This is huge! 

Hendrico, Cecil and Thobeka also made it through to the next step with modelling. Our social worker Xolani also got in with modelling. We are very very proud and excited, the event will take place in JHB as a black tie event where the gumboot dancers also have been asked to open the show in traditional South African colours as the welcome the international judges. These guys are making history for our childrens home!

Photo from a recent visit from Kingdom Connextion from Port Elizabeth, who donated time and items towards the children. It was great to spend time with them and the children were kept busy with trying out some bead work and other crafts.

Young Little Stars dance group practising ahead of the auditions in Port Elizabeth for the Summerheat Model and Talent Search.

The Journey 2016

The Journey 2015 - Bloemfontein to Port Elizabeth!

Looking forward to Port Elizabeth - Cape Town 2016 Journey in September. Any person/volunteer interested to partake in the 2016 Journey, please contact Carol Deysel (+27828674028) or Vicky van Jaarsveld (+27726646656) for more information or email us (emm.youthcare@gmail.com) Entry date will close 30 August 2016. All are welcome!

Annual General Meeting

Emmanuel Child & Youth Care Centre will host their Annual General Meeting 2015/16 on 7 March 2016 at Agape Church, Middelburg. All Stakeholders, Members and friends of the home will be invited to come and share our good fortune, blessings from above, trials and tribulations with our team of dedicated guys and gals! Everybody at Emmanuel is loved firstly by God our Father, and secondly by one another as we all are valuable and precious.

" the really important kind of freedom involves attention, discipline, effort and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over and over, every day.........thank you for setting us free at Emmanuel to love and care for the children that needs us"

Thank you to every single person that contributes to the Emmanuel cause and the children, we cannot continue this work without supporters like you.

To Mark Ferreira, Bertus Deysel, Rhett Newton and Alf James, we send a special "thank you" your way for setting your goals, started the hard and never-ending work towards the Emmanuel "refreshment" stall at the upcoming KMMC (Karoo Mighty Men Conference). The funds will be contributed to the building project and to finish this project once and for all. May God be with you guys throughout.

Good luck to the Emmanuel models and gumboot dancers with your training towards the Summer Heat additions in May this year. Your hard work and dedication will pay off in the end! We love you dearly!

Emmanuel Gumboot Dancers

Emmanuel Gumboot Dancers, Young Little Stars at the SummerHeat Awards, Wild Coast Sun. We are proud of Ashley, Hendrico, Cecil. Waynne, Badanile, Attie, Blondie, Ronaldo....you guys shine like the stars that you are!