August News & Photos

It's been a busy few months at ECYCC with lots of work going on behind the scenes with the Department of Social Development and also our building works (getting closer to finish extra bedrooms and bathrooms in the new wing of the house).

Here are a few bits of news and accompanying photos. First off, our new social worker Xolani has settled in well - he has a great relationship with the children and he's very efficient and capable. Here he is helping Ashley and Hendrico fix some broken shelves:

We've had some new arrivals at the home, so a big Emmanuel welcome to Zander, Hilda and Blondy. Here they are with Ronaldo, just before heading off to school:

ECYCC manager Carol and the care workers went through training on FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) in order to learn to handle behavioural problems that can create. With a number of other NPO's from Middelburg attending too, the training course took place for 3 days in July at Agape church and was kindly sponsored by Hands on Africa. ECYCC sponsored the food for the sessions, Agape sponsored the venue and HoA sponsored the accommodation so a great team effort and social spirit. Here is everyone proudly displaying their certificates:

Other snippets of news:

• The building works continue on at a good pace with tiling and plastering of inside and outside walls. We still need to raise an estimated R60,000 in donations to complete all the works and be able to start using all the new rooms.
• We are getting assistance from Hands on Africa for items like beds, wash basins etc which they will being from Cape Town to furnish the new building - another reason to thank them.
• Mr Donald Smiles, retired teacher and Emmanuel board member, is giving extra tutoring lessons to the children on a weekly basis, including Maths.

More Progress

Thank you to all the people and organisations that have supported the Emmanuel Child & Youth Care Centre (ECYCC) in recent months. As always we are grateful for their kindness; we have more updates to report on:

The wood floor in the TV/playroom is now completed. This is a huge donation by an anonymous sponsor. We are most grateful for their generosity. It does not only look clean but gives an atmosphere of light and space.

Nienke, Youth Worker at Middelburg High School, collected and donated some much-needed items for the children. Amongst these were tin foods, cereals, soup mixes and other. We also had some children from the school come to work in our garden for a school project - it was nice to have someone help in this space!

Two German volunteers, Sarah and Verena arrived at the centre in August. We feel blessed by the talented women whom not only brought their love and care to our children but also volunteers their time and knowledge in order to help with study times. Ashley is progressing with his maths where Hendrico and Veronica developed a love for reading. Sarah will be leaving for Germany on Saturday 15 September, where Verena will stay on for another 4 weeks.

All the children are doing well, mostly looking forward to summer. Angel who is mentally challenged, had a ear and throat infection, but she is doing much better after medication. Angel attended The Ark (School for the disabled) but recently started to attend Bennie Boekwurm Play School on recommendation by the Social Worker of the ACVV. She loves her new school, especially the activities and programs they are running. 

Carol and Martha attended and completed the final application workshop for the Creative Arts in Psychosocial Support. The Fire Maker Workshops were over a period of a year and were very useful, we learnt more about ourselves and to deal with children from many different backgrounds. We will continue to have a support group over the next couple of months in order to deal with problem areas concerning the children’s psychosocial progress.

Caregivers, Martha, Katy and Carol, started a study group amongst ourselves, working through the “Amos, living and farming God’s way” handbook. The main purpose is to uphold a better life and to achieve better problem solving skills. Happy caregivers are healthy caregivers.

Our wish list for coming months consists of: 

1. new pair of school shoes for each children for the summer
2. toys and games for the playroom
3. cash towards a trip for the children for the upcoming holiday
4 a DVD player as our current one is now broken

Other much needed items for the home: Cleaning materials, bread spreads, maize meal, fresh fruit and vegetables, toiletries (soap, toothpaste, Vaseline), tea and juice will also be more than welcome. Donations in the form of cash, towards the running costs of the home will be much appreciated.

We will be happy if any kind donors can assist in any way.

Spring News

We have some little updates and thank yous to share which affect the home our 'little ones'. 

Photo 1- this is of Chrissie and Nakwe being looked after by a volunteer while the adults made 350L of soup for the KMMC (Karoo Mighty Men Conference). Rhett Newton (Vice Chairman of the Board) donated the materials towards this cause in order for the ECYCC to have soup, curry & rice and other refreshments exchanged on a donation basis available at the camp. The soup was made at the home where Martha, Dora, Jovonne & Carol had to make the soup, veggies and meat (veggies sponsored by Wolwekop Fruit & Veg, Mr. Appelgryn and meat sponsored by Deon Schoombie, a local farmer). Craig and Jovonne Erasmus got the gas, bottles, pots and generator sponsored by individual people from the Middelburg area. 

The food and drinks were divided amongst the ECYCC and other charitable projects in the district so everyone could benefit. All together we (ECYCC) received R16 000.00 in total from donations which makes all the hard work worthwhile and provides much-needed funds for the running of the home. We were happy to feed people at the KMMC as this was a Christian Conference and a good cause all together. We thank you Rhett for your generosity and belief in us. 

Photo 2 - Veronica enjoying some outdoor activities at a recent event. Through these good Samaritans we can have the children do exciting stuff like youth camps. Without these faithful supporters we cannot do this.

Photo 3 - the children enjoying the day out on a farm with Nehemia Ministries doing some outdoor activities and song & dance. Days like this are some our happiest.

Photo 4 - Carol (home manager) and Martha (carer) attended two training courses recently which are certificated. The Fire Maker Wellbeing workshop in February 2012 focussed on self care for the carer. Then in May 2012, a Fire Maker workshop for the Creative Arts in Psycho Social Support. This is done through the Zakheni Arts Therapy Foundation, a local NGO. We are looking forward to the next workshop in July 2012.

Skills Training

Well done to all the children who have been busy in recent months, helping around the house and garden where they can and learning valuable life and professional skills along the way. We are very proud of their efforts, and all the older children in the home (Ronaldo, Veronica, Hendrico, Ashley and Clayton) have been awarded certificates for them to keep as evidence of their achievements.