Emmanuel would like to give thanks to the Mayor 's Office for allowing 15 Emmanuel children to join in at the Christmas celebrations in Queenstown earlier this month. The Council provided transport to and from Queenstown. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Thanks goes to Beva and Siya (Emmanuel staff members) for committing their time as to accompany the children. It was a lovely day, the children received gifts and nutritious meals.

For the 7th year in a row all Emmanuel children attends Christmas celebrations with the Nehemiah Group from Pretoria at Conway farm. Thank you Nehemiah you are our family. Thanks to Siena and Tanja (Care Workers) whom accomponied the children for the day. The children received gift parcels and a lovely nutritious meal. Thanks again to Kaizer and his taxi service for profecional and safe transportation of the children.

Nana is our female singer and winner with a voice like an angel. Nana sings Gospel with a voice so strong and clear it gives anybody goosbumps

Another talent show held at Emmanuel in December, Wayne was the winner in the singing catagory for males

A talent show held at Emmanuel in November. Siena and Siya (Care Workers) hands out prizes to some of the winners here.

Happy smiles from Zola and Asemahle at their school fairwell with Social Worker Xolani. These two will be going to high school next year.

The Emmanuel Child & Youth Care Centre has a beautiful history around it's name, it came to one of the founders in a dream and it means "God with us" ...no other name can ever compare

12 October 2017
News & overall Updates

TO: Members, Donors/Sponsors & Stakeholders

I trust all are well. The year 2017 was a memorable year, a year for the children here at Emmanuel. That said,
I would like to give thanks to our Father in Heaven through all the ups and downs of the past year, without Him
we could not remain in the “spot” we are today.

On 19 November 2017, Emmanuel Child & Youth Care Centre will celebrate our 8th birthday as a registered
NPO.....going on to 10! This alone was a huge accomplishment as not always we had the wind from behind.
Since May 2014, the centre operates as a fully registered child and youth care centre, funded by the Department
of Social Development. Since the time of registration, Emmanuel operates as a professional and respected safe
place for the children, keeping up high standards, moral values and most important, value our integrity and
worth. As we have an “open book policy” please feel free to visit and may I send an “open invitation” to our
community to visit whenever in the area. We would appreciate if you attend our yearly Annual General Meeting
around end of the financial year, each year in March/April. Please send contact details to
emm.youthcare@gmail.com or alternately to 0828674028 via whatsup or text message for formal invite to reach
your inbox in time. All are welcome.

Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre operates under a Management Board/Committee with three signatories
namely the Chairman, Treasurer and the Secretary of the Board available at all times. The centre Manager
oversee the day to day operations to go well and within the rules and regulations of the Constitution and set
principals since the day of opening of the centre.

A criterion funded for by the Department is:
a) Nutrition – which means our children receives 3 home cooked meals per day
b) Developmental Programmes & Projects – as to educate, explore the talent of children, keep them occupied physically & socially
c) Personal/Health – clothing and general health expenses, toiletries etc
d) Admin costs – electrical/water bills, accounting fees, transport & fuel, school & office stationary, fire ex fees, social work fees etc
e) Stipend for a qualified Social worker
f) Stipends of 4 care workers

Other costs incurred:
a) Stipend for a Manager – Emmanuel through sponsorship
b) Stipends of 3 cleaners/cook - Emmanuel through sponsorship
c) Casual Labour and temp staff - paid from Emmanuel for gardening, temporary personnel when a fulltime member is on annual leave etc
d) Repairs/Maintenance – this included the renovations and extensions of the new section, totally reliable on fundraisers, private donations and other funding applications
e) Rent of the property
f) Back-up funds – in case of any emergency
g) Marketing & related

Here at Emmanuel we have many success stories and one of them is that most of our children could travel to other parts in our country including a holiday in Cape Town with the Hands On Africa team, auditions and performances at talent competitions by our gumboot team The Young Little Stars, Hip Hop team and models, in Port Elizabeth, KZN, The Wild Coast Sun Casino, Krugersdorp at the Silver Star Casino, locally, over a period of time. Two male models received an invitation to perform internationally, invitation is still open until July 2018. One of our past residents completed his metric successfully, studied for a short period at a Christian college in Cape Town as part of his gap year, travelled to Zambia with a group of other students as to be part of a discipleship course, is back in Middelburg earning a living as an adult and well balanced father of his two little children. These are all stories that warm the heart of each and every member of Emmanuel and reminds us that this is just so worth the while.

Other accomplishments over the years were extensions of a new wing for boys, starting of renovations, friends we made locally and nationally.

Most of our senior children had the opportunity to take part in various programmes and events like the Karoo Mighty Men Conferences, Song of Songs Christian course and other Ministry workshops, an enjoyable holiday club held by Hands On Africa, outreaches to Rossmead and Midros with other Emmanuel members of management and staff, worship events with Kingdom Connexion and many more. These accomplishments were made possible by God first of all and good friends in Christ.

Places Emmanuel children visited were Mountain Zebra Park, PE beachfront, Port Edward beach, Wild Coast Sun Casino, Silver Star Casino, different holiday resorts in Gauteng and KZN, Cape Town beachfront and many more places we travelled through.

People Emmanuel children met and who visited the centre was Raven Nel Mr South Africa finalist, Ms SummerHeat 2010 France Ferreira, Dewald Gouws, Africa Mhalope, the Nehemiah Ministry group, Kingdom Connexion group, Hands On Africa group, The Karoo Mountain Bike Riders, Victory Gap Year and so many more wonderful people locally and from elsewhere in the world. All of these people made an impact or left a footprint or were led by the Spirit to find their way into our centre and the hearts of the children. Most importantly all children met Jesus Christ through daily worship and Bible study, our only prayers are that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess.

We had many challenges over the years. The biggest one so far is the concept that this home, the Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre...God with us, is mistakenly called “the carehouse” ......if I could find a word as demeaning as that in the dictionary, I would be lost. Since the day of opening back in 2009, it was called the “Emmanuel Children’s Home” until 2014 the name has changed to Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre. This is what makes us proud, the origin of this beautiful name and the history around it. Emmanuel means GOD WITH US!

Other challenges are reunification of our clients with their family members, due to circumstances and family members leaving town which complicates the situation. Children absconding from school are another challenge from time to time as for some it is hard to accept rules and not be able to function in an structured environment after many years of “running free” without any or limited supervision. We have installed an alarm system (beams) as well as CCTV cameras inside and outside of the centre for security and safety purposes, it is not easy to abscond from Emmanuel premises. Nevertheless, our children do not find themselves in a prison setup where this is still their home for the time spend here where they need to feel welcome and comfortable as well as at home, we cannot lock them in where we encourage them to attend sports, church youth groups, gym clubs etc. Some of the negative information concerning a “care house” or information fed to them about having a social grant complicates matters. The children at Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre are not Forster children and therefore they do not receive a grant but in fact the centre gets subsidised by the Department of Social Development for 24 children according to the above mentioned funding criteria. The centre is registered for 28 children to accommodate at any one time.

The Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre remains a well established, structured and professional institution very much the same as any other Non-profit organisation within our area, rendering services to our local community, our clients and stakeholders. The centre operates under the child care act and children placed here are legal with a valid court order, no other illegal operations or children “being collected” from their family homes or the streets takes place at any point in time. A qualified Social worker is employed by the centre that operates as the internal social worker/case worker of every child living here, regular child reports, counselling sessions, group work, yearly narratives, financial reports and all other information needed by the Department of Social Developments gets done on a regular basis. All of our operations are up to standard and we take pride in what we do here at the Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre....God with us.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information from us.

Kind regards

Emmanuel CYCC Management

Raven Nel, Mr SA finalist 2017 visited the Emmanuel children on Saturday 7 October 2017. Thank you to Spar Middelburg and to Raven for this wonderful gesture!

Victory Gap Year girls creating art with Emmanuel girls❤️

Victory Gap Year students creating art in the boys section! ❤️

Victory Gap Year Students from Jefferyesbay visited the centre on 11 October 2017, yesterday. What a buch of awsome young people, the testomonies they presented to us were amazing. We wish these students the very best and would like to thank them for the great work they are doing in communities. To Emmanuel it was a blessing through and through! THANK YOU!

Leaving the park with sadness although a sense of joy as it was a very pleasant day. All children could buy a pressie from the gift shop as a pleasant memory from their day at Mount Zebra Park...the boys went for sunglasses😎, the girls jewelery🤩 and the little ones caps👨‍🏭

An enjoyable lunch for all at the restuarant at Mount Zebra Park🍝

The kids could benefit from the educational talk by member Mxolisi Fulumente from Mount Zebra Game Reserve followed by a drive through the park, acomponied by Mxolisi and another game keeper, explaining different animals and their habbits to the children.

...and the wheels on the bus goes round and round......excited children looking forward to their day which was a surprize as we kept it a secret to where they are going until the morning of the 6th😁 The bus was rented with driver Kaizer from TJ Nqinata Taxi's. Please use these guys, they are reliable, profecional and safe!

17 children, Social worker Xolani, Manager Carol, Chairman Bertus, Treasurer Marnene and driver Kaizer kick start the day at Wimpy Cradock for a enjoyable breakfast.

Emmanuel children had the opportunity to spend a day, Friday the 6th of October at Mount Zebra Game Reserve. Amongst the animals they could spot were Zebra, jackal, Springbok, Blessbok, Kudu and the best for last...Rhino. The funding used from developmental programmes and projects budget, were bucks well spend!

Each Emmanuel child received a R1000 gift voucher from Emmanuel funding to shop at Jetmart for new clothes and shoes. Here its the boys turn to shop with Social Worker Xolani. Smiles all round🙂

"wined" and dined at Agape church like kings & queens

Worship at Rossmead outreach with senior children

Emmanuel girls attend woman's day service at Agape Church with Kingdom Connexion PE

Emmanuel senior children visit Midros open church with Natasha and Semandie from KIngdom Connexion PE on Sunday 13 August 17

Emmanuel kids entertained Rossmead residents with song and dance

Hot cup of soup for everyone

Emmanuel kids handing out soup, bread and Bibles

20 July 67 Minutes Rossmead outreach

Hooglied Weekend

Emmanuel senior children had the opportunity to attend the Hooglied Weekend at Agape Church, Middelburg. Marius and Marthe Malan invited the children for the entire weekend. I believe there is not a child that did not learn something, spend some time in the Word and prayer, and will have lots of tales to tell. The weekend was packed with activities, started on Friday eve, 14 July, ending Sunday 16th of July. All Glory goes to God our Father. Thank you Marius and Marthe for this wonderful weekend.

Vision

ECYCC (Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre) envisions a world where all children are nurtured, loved and cared for and where these children will grow up to be self-sufficient and have the opportunity to actively contribute to their communities.

Mission

ECYCC is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable children. Our mission is to inspire, motivate, develop and educate these underprivileged children.

ECYCC have an open book policy with a clear Code of Conduct, Financial Policy Statement & Fraud Prevention Policy, Child Protection Policy and yearly Financial Statements done by Registered Accountants & Auditors. We work strictly according to the Child Care Act.

Our main source of income is one-off donations, monthly Sponsors/Donors and fundraisers. As from April 2014, ECYCC is also funded by the DOSD (Department Of Social Development) towards nutrition, developmental programs & projects, personal, health & hygiene and the salary of a qualified Social Worker. ECYCC receives DOSD inspections and monitoring every three months on financial matters and other.

Children living at the centre are between the ages of birth and 18 years old. All children are welcome regardless of race, culture, religion and political views. ECYCC is a Christian based organisation with our only purpose of loving each and every child equally with no intention of discriminating at any point in time against the background of a child.

The ECYCC is a registered Non Profit Organisation operating as a DOSD Child & Youth Care Centre. Children are legally placed via a court order and upon removal of a child, a removal order via the court is in place. The ECYCC works strictly according to the Child Care Act, Privacy Policy and other structures are in place in order to protect children and their human rights. A huge part of our work is to reunify children with their family members, which makes the family of a child as much our client as the child.

The centre is registered by the Department of Health and DOSD to accommodate 28 children at any one time. The ECYCC reached full capacity currently and have no space available for any more children at this point. We would whole heatedly appreciate and support any other organisation in Middelburg which went through the correct legal process as to register another non profit organisation first of all, work according to the child care act only and have legal procedures and structures in place. This will mean a great deal to us as the need is great in our community and the hands few.

The ECYCC is in no position as to recruit children as per the Child Care Act as well as our Child and Youth Care registration. It can also not be done by any other unauthorized (not registered) organisation. A child can only legally be placed at the centre with a valued reason, referred by the DOSD and accompanied by the correct documentation, valid court order or form 36 in case of safe keeping purposes. Emmanuel then becomes the legal guardians of a child for the time accommodated at the centre.

Any child and youth care facility acts as a final resort and a temporal solution, until such time the child is reunited with his/her family or placed in to Forster care. Emmanuel do not deal with Forster care or adoption cases. This is handled by the DOSD. Every child living at Emmanuel still remains under his/her external Social Worker's supervision and guidance, working closely with the internal Social Worker, employed by the ECYCC on a permanent basis, who oversee the child's needs are being met on a day to day basis at the centre.

Any other activities like projects in Rossmead, Midros and other areas is not part of our forte though operated by individual members or board members as we serve our community as a home based care facility for children only. From time to time children living at Emmanuel takes part in some of these projects a p skills training and other.

The ECYCC recently registered at SARS as a Public Benefit Organisation which gives us the credibility to issue Section 18 A Receipts to sponsors and donors.

Emmanuel means "God with us".....may God be with each person reading this and reminding us that He is on the Throne and no one else. Go well by His Grace.

The Young Little Stars performed at the event hosted by Social Development last week

Substance awareness in Middelburg by Social Development

"we just love pressies and making things" Thanks to aunt Elmare (in the photo) for these

Emmanuel boys competing in a cooking competition with the girls. Each team gets a chance to cook lunch and dinner for a day. The winning team will receive a prize. Winners will be announced soon

Emmanuel girls having High Tea

The Young Little Stars gumboot dancers performed at the Civic Centre Youth Day 2017

Our 7 Years with Karoo Mighty Men

Carol Deysel

17 mins · 

8 Junie 2017
Emmanuel Child&Youth Care,

Namens die KarooMMC komitee wil ons julle bedank vir julle deelname aan Karoo MMC vir die afgelope 7 jaar. Julle was deel van ‘n span wat duisende mense se lewens onherroeplik verander het...
“Praise the Lord, my son is 16 years old and was at MMC last year as well as this year; he was a different boy and has been blessed with all the powerful messages.”
“Thank you for the best weekend ever, me giving my heart to the Lord.”
Vandag is Karoo Mighty Men ‘n herinnering. Nie iets om af te stof nie maar om naby jou hart te koester...
Stof– FanieLaubscher

Ekhou die stap skoene vas in my hand en wil dit begin afstof, maar huiwer vir ‘n oomblik.
Hierdie stof verteenwoordig so baie.Hierdie is ongelooflike ervaring stof. Dit is stof van die Karoo en my laaste stukkie van tasbare onthou.
Die plaas, die manne wat aanstap, die groot verhoog, die opgewondenheid… alles sulke vinnige terug blik oomblikke wat nou deur my gedagtesspoel. Die musiek begin speel, die indrukwekkende verhoog voor ons en so effe links, die laaste onthou van die grootsheid van ‘n Karoo son sak.
Ek onthou hierdie oomblikke amper die beste van elke jaar se Karoo MMC. Amper soos die Here se verwelkomings groet by die Karoo. Terwyl die wolke subtiel ingekleur word en die manne se stemme begin opdruis kry ek so effense heimweegevoel van ‘n laaste Karoo Mighty Men sonsak. Ek probeer elkesekonde inneem, want ekbesefhierdie is onslaastebesoeksaam op die plaas.
Ekkykaf en maak my oë toe. Ek bid uitdankbaarheid. Dankbaar vir oomblikke, dankbaar om te kan bid. Ek bid vir my seuntjie se toekoms, sommer vir die oom regsvoor my se toekoms ook. Ek bid oorbekommernisse en ek bid virGenade. Ek maak my oë oop en sien die droë grond en stukkies gras rondom my skoene. My sit-plekkie op die plaas. My stukkie grond waarek so baie met die Here sit en praat gedurende die naweek.
Hierdie stof op my stap stewels is nie werklik
stof wat ek wil af skud nie. Dit verteenwoordig so baie. My alleen oomblikke met God tussen duisende manne. My Karoo son sak oomblikke. ‘n Kosbare hartstyd wat ek altyd by my sal dra. Stof wat dalk droogte weerspieël, maar die Karoo is groen en ons binneste ontvang reën wat ons gemoed en geloof versterk en nuwe lewe bring. Nuwe hoop, nuwe uitsien en nuwe denke oor ‘n God wat Sy kosbare beskermende hande om ons vou en ons styf vashou met deernis en onderskraging.
Wat ‘n wonderlike voorreg en seëning om met hierdie herinneringe te kan wegstap.

Ja voorwaar ‘n voorreg om so ‘n ryke herinnering in jou hart te kan dra.

Nogmaals baie dankie, mag julle werklik geseënd wees!

Ruthi van der Merwe (Namens Karoo Mighty Men Komitee)

Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre was responsible for the Coke stall at the 2017 KMMC. All moneys earned will be put towards the building extension and recreational room at the home. It is very costly though and we will be needing more sponsors and one off donations. Our plan is to complete this project for the children to have a indoor sports/play area where as they currently just have the outdoor space which can be freezing cold in winter time.

Other needs are:
1 Linen and curtains/cutlery and crockery
2 Chairs and tables/room closets/loose carpets
3 Educational toys and books
4 Winter clothing for boys (somehow we have plenty for girls)
5 Christian books, DVD's and Bibles
6 Christian Volunteers
7 Other Tutors in Maths, Music etc
8 Volunteers towards renovations
9 Funds towards professional staff training e.g. transport, training fees, salaries

All nutrition, child programs and projects as well as personal items like toiletries etc are being funded by the Department of Social Development for the next financial period.

All Emmanuel Care Workers will soon be send for professional training as to give our children a more specialized service. Monitoring by the Department will be in place. The training is costly and therefore we will be needing much needed funds.

Emmanuel members are thankful to all people caring for our children and the home in some way, for prayers and spiritual support as well as other more physical contributions.

The Emmanuel gumboot dancers, The Young Little Stars (8 boys), had a very successful past year and still going strong. The dancers are currently practicing for their next event....please watch this space.....more to come. Please follow their photo's and success stories in previous blogs. Our male models, Hendrico and Cecil did not attend The Arts, USA this year, although they were invited by International Judges, funding just did not cut it for them. They needed about ZAR200 000.00 in total, covering plane tickets, accommodation and food, visa's, passports. They remain positive for next year though. The models have decided to trust God to provide and if He so will, if they do not go, they will remain training, auditioning where possible as well as performing locally. We are proud of the guys.

All Emmanuel children are praying for the Knysna and other victim areas affected by floods and the fire in Western Cape. Emmanuel would like to make a contribution towards this in some form. We are currently making arrangements via a contact

Last but not least, we support Chairman Bertus Deysel in his mission to minister and provide Bibles towards men and boys in Rossmead, local area outside of Middelburg. Bertus completed his Diploma course in Technology with Hands On Africa although Evangelism among our local communities  is his passion. Our prayers goes with Bertus.

Karoo Mighty Men Conference 2017. All men and boys from Emmanuel could attend!

Emmanuel Child and Youth Care Centre would like to thank the following people for their donations, commitment and care towards the Emmanuel children:

1 Hands On Africa for their relationship with all the children and members of our cause
2 Natasha from Kingdom Connexion Port Elizabeth for donation in the form of goods
3 Nadia Kruger from Cradock for volunteering at the home
4 Johan Scheepers for meat donations
5 Emperian bike riders Middelburg and Bikers Association Cradock for donations and time spend with the children
6 Mark Nash and family for donations
7 Anna and Sebastiaan from Germany for volunteering and donations towards the children
8 Julia from Germany for volunteering
9 Auto Body Repairs Middelburg for ongoing support
10 Rhett Newton for sponsorship
11 Ms Olivier from Western Cape for sponsorship
12 Mr Goddard for sponsorship
13 St Barnabas Anglican Church for sponsorship
14 Spar Middelburg for bread donations
15 All Anonymous sponsors and donors for love and care towards the home and the children
16 Bertus Deysel for his spiritual support and Bible teaching
17 The Bible Institute for sponsoring Bibles in different languages and also a much needed audio Bible
18 Engela Viljoen for Gym Classes to big girls
19 Glen for opening his gym to our big boys
20 Occupational Therapists for their ongoing visits and support
21 Visitors dropping in at the centre on a daily basis with goodies for the children in the form of food parcels, snacks, fruit and veg, winter clothing, toys and other. You are too many to mention yet we do appreciate each and every Samaritan that cares for the children.

Emmanuel members could attend this event in Bloemfontein. We continue to pray for our country and our people, for the children of this nation as they are our future. Emmanuel kids we love you!

Emmanuel children with the bike riders at Agape Church having a lovely time

Day spend with Hands On Africa at City of Refuge Middelburg