Verena's Volunteer Experience

In August of this year, ECYCC was lucky enough to have two new faces as volunteers - Verena and Sarah from Germany. They were a joy to work with and are very grateful for their support. Verena has kindly written some words on her experience which we would like to share:

"Within my studies I did an internship from August 25th to October 6th 2012 in South Africa and, therefore I chose to volunteer at Emmanuel Child & Youth Care Centre. Thanks to Carol’s brief updates and Sarah (volunteer at that time) I did not have to be uncertain about what to expect in the centre. By beginning of August I was getting quite excited about my volunteering time. 

The first days in the centre were breathtaking. Experiencing a different culture, meeting the kids (who by the way are so amazing), working with the care workers Auntie Katie and Martha, and last but not least, meeting two people who loved their work and the kids with all one’s heart. During my first week in the centre I experienced some tiredness I have not felt before ;) I guess I just was not used to being around children all day. After the first week passed I got used to that though. 

Daily routine: During the week the children of school age went to school in one of the townships in Middelburg from 8am to 2pm. As Carol told me they went there due to the teachers giving lessons in Afrikaans and to help maintain their culture. During that time Sarah and I were looking after Nakwe and Chrissy who are the youngest boys and not yet of school age. At 4pm all the children had study time. During that time they did their school work, pursued their arts, read books etc. Starting at about 5.30pm every child took a shower and the smallest ones and Angel were bathed by either Martha or Katie. At six o’clock dinner was ready and everybody sat at the table anticipating some nicely cooked afrikaans kos. It was funny to see how much the 'big boys’ – and siblings – Ashley and Hendrico could eat! After some quality time together right after dinner the kids could watch some TV and then went to bed at 8pm. On weekends we sometimes gave them popcorn – they absolutely love it! 

Reflection: During my internship I learned so much about South African culture, the children, their difficult and sad backgrounds and of course, about myself. It was the best decision to come to Emmanuel. I got to love the children and staff and after six weeks it was really hard to go back to everyday-life in Germany. I would definitely recommend staying at Emmanuel for a longer time. After the six weeks I just got used to everything, everything got daily routine and I finally started to understand – and speak (well, barely :D) Afrikaans. The children are incredible and despite their hard backgrounds they are getting all the love they need from Carol, Bertus, Bertie, Martha and Katie and for a short time – from me."

Competition Win

The Shoprite Community Network in collaboration with a Xhosa Radio Station gave ECYCC the opportunity to enter in a competition, Thandi Mblane (Treasurer of the Board) was our Xhosa spokesperson and went live on air via telephone with the radio station on Friday the 23d of Nov. She did a excellent job of it. We won R10000 worth of Shoprite and Pep stores vouchers which we will use for buying food, school stationary, school clothes and shoes for the next year. This is good!

Tea Mornings and Birthdays

The Emmanuel Ladies Morning Tea was hosted on 21st October by Karen MacEwan; it was a huge success and the first of many more to come.. We are grateful for funds that came in and to Karen for hard work and the fact that the care workers of the home were spoiled with lovely treats. Thanks to the Desert Inn for opening their hearts and home to us, and for all the helpers and donors that assisted Karen in the event.

Three new children joined us last month: Renier who is 14, 2-year old toddler Kelvin and baby Olwani who is 4-months old. As well as new arrivals, we have been celebrating some birthdays: Clayton turned 21 on 1st November: congratulations to him and on the birth of his son in September this year. Clayton is working and now living with his new family, we are proud of him and he is doing good since he 'graduated' from the home. We also celebrated Ronaldo's 11th birthday and Veronica's 14th birthday - happy days as the photos show:

Zoleka Naleni started as a third care worker. With her joining Katy and Martha, we now have cover for the morning, afternoon and night shift. We welcome her as part of our family.

We are aiming to starting a Community Outreach program during the December holidays called "Project Clean Up", where our children will participate in helping to clean areas blighted by rubbish around Midros and Middelburg. They will also help make other children from the community aware of the problem and get them to take part so we will have a big community 'team' working together on it. We will hand out leaflets in order to make the adult community aware of this problem too. We will have permission from the Council of Midros and M/B to run this activity and we hope to continue it throughout 2013. We are applying for funds in order to keep this up e.g. paper for printing, petrol for transport, casual labour or people to help on this project. We think this activity is important because we want to educate the children about keeping a clean environment and the benefits of this. We want everyone in the community to have pride in their surroundings.

Other updates: the Seventh Day Adventist Church donated two computers to the home, which we will use to start IT lessons for the bigger children as soon as we get the volunteers to do this. Veronica will be visiting a hair salon during the December holiday, she will work and learn for a week the skills and art of hair braiding as this is a passion.

New Arrivals

In the last month we have been blessed with 3 new children coming to live with us in the home. It's so nice to have all these extra smiles...

Kelvin, standing between Chrissie and Sinakwe:

14 year-old Renier:

Baby Olwani:

Farm Visit

Some of the children had a visit to a local farm, with the chance to interact with some of the animals and meet some new friends of their own age. It was good educational experience and we will try to repeat it again soon. 

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.

June News

Thank you to all the people and organisations who have supported ECYCC in recent months. As always we are grateful for their kindness and we have some nice updates to report on:


This month is Child Protection Month in SA, ABSA Bank in Middelburg will have a box out inside the bank in order for their clients to donate items.

Also the children,their families and teachers at  Kleingeluk Gedenk Skool (a pre-school from M/B) donated some teddy bears for the ECYCC children, some clothing items and some funds in order for our children to have a little party at home. The funds were used for the kids to have a movie night and some snacks to keep cosy from the cold.

Handelshuis M/B donated rolls of material for us to make new curtains and table cloths for the home. Katy (care worker) will do the curtains as she is trained in this area. We have recently welcomed Katy into the home as a new staff member. She is a caring and loving person, very patient and responsible.

Last but not least, a big donation! Donald Smiles (politician and advisory board member of the home) donated funds for tiles, tile cement and grout towards the renovating of the boys bathroom. This will be a great gift and we are grateful for the opportunity to further improve the facilities in the house.

Please see some new photos below:

1. Kids baking with Bertie (our very kind night volunteer)
2. Teachers from  Kleingeluk Gedenk Skool M/B donated teddy bears for Child Protection Week
3. Kids doing a prayer before dinner-time

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.

We Have The (Solar) Power!

We had some exciting news last week - Tinus du Plessis donated a solar heating system towards the home, it's already been delivered and waiting currently for people to install the system which Tinus has also organised. We cannot thank Tinus enough for making this happen and we look forward to seeing it installed - photos and a final update will come in a few weeks.


This will make a big difference for the home, it will certainly help a great deal with high electricity bills!

Counting Our Blessings

We would like to share thank you for all the recent kind support we've had from our community of friends and colleagues - without them it would not the same spirit driving forward the home...

1. Kevin Chetty who made a donation in memory of a loved one. We were really touched by this generosity.

2. Marna de Vos and Elzanne Vosloo (two Occupational Therapists from the local hospital) who left Middelburg this  last December - we thank them for their love and support for the home and the children, and Marna for her faithful contributions the past year.

3. Sanet van Graan and her husband for sponsoring the Xmas party for the kids.

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4. Alf & Brenda for presents and other support.

5. Nehemia Ministries for the kid's Xmas party on the farm and for their presents.

6. Karen McEwan for her support and commitment.

7. Rhett Newton for his donation.

Clayton Prepares for a Big 2012

ECYCC has a had a good success story in December. Funds have been raised for the first quarter of his planned Gap Year with the FCE (Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education). This chance for study and travel cannot be valued highly enough - Clayton will get to see life outside of Middelburg properly for the first time and even outside South Africa. We now look for sponsors to help fund the remainder of the Gap Year.

We owe some a lot of gratitude to friends of ECYCC who have helped secure sponsorship for Clayton and given him this life changing opportunity. Heartfelt thanks go out to Candice Nash and her company Servier Laboratories in the UK who have kindly donated funds to help set Clayton on his way and purchase the basic items needed for the start of the trip. Also we are very grateful to Tian and Karen Erasmus who have been instrumental in making this all happen.

We are proud of Clayton's desire to make the most of this opportunity and cannot wait to see how he develops in this big year ahead.

Renovations

The home continues to be improved as resources allow us: some of the most recent projects have seen the TV room walls replastered and given a lovely light paint job to make it a nice environment to relax in. Thanks to everyone that helped make it happen, and to Clayton's extra efforts to finish it off with Carol. Now that spring has come we're also starting again in the vegetable garden in the yard, and we've had Ashley, Hendrico and Ronaldo helping prepare the ground and take an interest in planting. Well done boys...

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.

September Newsletter

Dear all, we are coming to the end of a very cold period for all Middelburg folk, all the kids are doing well, are healthy and very happy to get into their summer gear after all this time.

The good news is that Poppie (Khazimla Haas), a 6 year old girl, arrived at the home very ill and weak one month ago, has made so much of progress that she was placed into foster care which is also a good home for her to be at. This little girl was placed here at the Centre for safe keeping under the watchful eye of Hospice, to receive some TLC in order to get better. Poppie will still be monitored by Hospice from time to time, we miss this bright little girl a lot though. Angel, Christiaan and Sinakwe are doing well - the small boys are fully potty trained by now and just wear nappies at night time. This was a very joyful breakthrough for us all.

Ashley, Hendrico and Veronica studied hard this term and we are expecting good results from them. Veronica just gave word to the social workers that she is very happy here at the Emmanuel Centre and would like to remain here, she feels safe and protected and as she put it herself, she even welcomes the rules and discipline. The social worker found that this gives her balance, stability and a sense of belonging.

Clayton is currently busy with his record exam at MHS, we pray for a successful outcome as Clayton would like to attend a Christian Finishing School in Cape Town for a period of one year. We are still looking for a sponsor concerning this.

Like always we are in need of fresh produce,etc, although we received a wonderful gift in the form of a donation from Starke Ayres in Port Elizabeth. We can now sow seeds of fresh veggies and looking forward in the next couple of months to reap our hard work and dedication. All of the bigger children will take part in this project.

Daniel Jordan, a German volunteer, spend a period of 6 weeks with us, which gave me the opportunity to have a well deserved break and to visit my family in Kwazulu Natal, Daniel "kept the fort" here at the Centre. He will be leaving for Germany tonight. We are looking forward to have Mark Nash, from England, here for a week as from 30th September. Mark is also an "old hand" and was the volunteer started out with me in May 2009. Mark
visits almost every year, please feel free to come and meet him.

I would like to wish all a very happy spring and may God bless.
Warm regards
Carol Deysel

Snow

It's been snowing in Middelburg, everyone is wrapped up warm...

Profile: Angel

Angel is definitely one of the biggest characters of the home. Despite not always having the words to express herself, she shares her emotions in warm and touching ways and her laughter and energy fills the home. Everyone who meets Angel is charmed by her. She has been with ECYCC for nearly a year now and we hope to watch her grow up in a fine young lady who is a credit to the home.

June & July Updates

A lot has changed at the Emmanuel Child & Youth Care Centre, first of all, the home's name has changed as you may have noticed. This recognises the modern conventions with naming social institutions and it is a small but important step towards our registration with the Dept of Social Development.

We also welcomed 3 new board members in the past week, Alfred James as our new Chairman, Rhett Newton as Vice Chairman and Mr James Daniels as an Advisory board member. Welcome to these wonderful people and may this be a very exciting and successful year all round.

On behalf of everyone involved in ECYCC, we would like to thank Marna de Vos (Occupational Therapist) for organizing and making the necessary arrangements in order for training to take place at the Centre later this year, at which other NGO's will also attend. We are excited and looking forward to this. Thank you to Karen McEwan for making this contact, we appreciate and value both you guys.

Welcome to Martha Matthews ("old hand") who is joining our staff. Martha is a certified care worker with excellent training skills,we are happy having her back and wish her success in the future. As Martha knows most of the children, she's been settling in already with smiles all round. Most volunteers will know Martha as a quiet but friendly person with a passion for these children. Martha worked for many years at, and was trained by the Dianne Lang Care Home, before it closed down.

Warmest of greetings, from the management team.

Well Done Runners

We want to thank Rima, Rob and Mark and say we are very proud of them. They ran sponsored runs in the UK (Derby Kilomathon 26.2 km and Brighton Marathon 26.2 miles) and raised money for the home, through their families, friends and colleagues. We are so grateful for the hard work they put into the challenges and are thankful to everyone that sponsored them. The funds will make a big difference to the ongoing care of the children.

Thank you, no words to describe how much this means to us!

Profile: Clayton

Congratulations to Clayton....he recently won the "Mr Middelburg High" title at his school as well as a number of other categories. We are extremely proud of him and he deserves these accolades. He has also become a youth leader at church recently and he is starring in his school's rugby team this year, playing in the 1st team which just won 3 matches on a recent tour to Bloemfontein and he's training for the next rugby tour to George in 3 weeks time. We now need him to be positive in his final year at school and wish him all the best. Please friends of ECH, we need a sponsor for this bright young man in order to take him to new heights. Contact Carol on 049 8424414 or email us at emm.childrenshome@gmail.com. Clayton has grown into a very decent young man and he can achieve so much.

Thanking Our Patrons

We would like to thank Dianne Lang who continues to support the home through her fundraisers. The funds have helped contribute to the running of home, as well as a day-trip for the children to the nearby Zebra Park which was thoroughly enjoyed. She has remained a good friend of ECH and our thoughts are with her.

Also kind regards to our Emmanuel Kumi who has kindly donated to the home - we thank him for his monthly support.