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.

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!

The Journey 2015

Imagine walking from Bloemfontein to Port Elizabeth, a total of 637 kms in 15 short days, with only a backpack and tent; camping on the side of the road and eating only what you’ve managed to carry with you. There are motivated South Africans who have decided to do just this! Why would they do it? Simply put – for charity and awareness!

This is the second year that this walk will take place. In 2014 Nkosinathi Manganyi and Luchantla Andrews walked from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein for their charities. After last year’s trip they announced “We got transformed on the road, and The Journey turned into a lifetime experience, that’s why it cannot end with just Bloemfontein”; and that’s when the planning started for the next stage of the walk – now named The Journey. Their eventual aim is to have left a footprint in every province of South Africa with The Journey

The Journey began on Saturday 5 September when founder of the walk, Nkosinathi Manganyi together with Vicky van Jaarsveld, a Shelly Beach resident, completed the first half of the walk as far as Middelburg, Eastern Cape for their combined charities. Nkosinathi completed the second half of the walk for his personal charities and now Vicky will begin the second half of her walk on 7th October for her own charities.

Co-founder and co-owner of Summer Heat Model & Talent Search, Vicky, will be walking with Xolani Nompume, a social worker from Emmanuel Children’s Home and Mark Ferreira from Coca-Cola. One of the charities that will benefit from this second half of Vicky’s Journey is Emmanuel Children’s Home in Middelburg, Eastern Cape who are in need of building supplies so they can extend their home and take in more children in need. Vicky will also be walking to raise funds for Bolla, a gorgeous 8 year old Maltese poodle, to have life changing surgery. Bolla has cataracts on both her eyes and has gone completely blind. The Animal Eye Hospital, based in Johannesburg with a branch in Cape Town is the only specialised veterinarian facility that will be able to perform the surgery required and Vicky would like to raise the money for Bolla to be attended to. Vicky has been training for this Journey but, knowing exactly what to expect in the second half of the walk (in the first half she was thoroughly challenged – even to having to walk with bleeding feet), she sticks firmly with the old maxim – “The Body Achieves What the Mind Believes”. Through sand storms, rain and blistering sun, diminishing food supplies, blisters and absolute exhaustion, she says what really matters is The Journey – not the destination.

This challenging undertaking is one that will take the walkers out of their comfort zone and will definitely be a journey through life at the same time.

Already a host of sponsors have come on board to assist Vicky with this massive undertaking, including Spar Middelburg EC sponsoring supplies; Coca-Cola offering Powerade and Autobody Repairs in Middelburg EC who will supply a back up emergency vehicle and a driver.

If you would like to support this initiative you could assist with sponsorship of building supplies for Emmanuel Children’s Home, or a donation towards Bollas eye surgery. Alternatively contact Vicky on vicky@summerheatsearch.co.za for more information.

To follow The Journey, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Journey/1459394264345794

Building For The Future

More reasons to be grateful for this month - the home continues to grow and make steps to even better facilities and experiences for the children. Volunteer Petra and her friends and family have kindly donated funds for the children to take some fun and educational day-trips and to cover other needs like new clothing. They have been very generous so many thanks to them.

Also Michael Halsey has continued to make a big difference for ECYCC... he has kindly donated to the building funds that will extend one side of the house to make a second bathroom and additional bedroom, increasing our capacity and helping us to meet the standards required of by the Department of Social Development for our registration. The photo below shows the start of the work which will transform the home when completed.

If you would like to support us further with the building work (which we still do not have the full funds to complete) please get in touch with us at emm.childrenshome@gmail.com and consider donating to us on the donation link which accepts all kinds of payment. The link is here. 

Some belated thanks - a couple of months ago we said goodbye to Maria, one of our volunteers from Germany. We were all sad to see her leave, especially the children who had many fun memories with her. Thank you for your kindness Maria and good luck with everything in the future!

Charity Riders

The Empyrean Riders is a local bikers club from Middelburg. Jaques Niemand is the President of this club and organizer of event on the Easter weekend who visited the home, handing out goody bags, other treats and Easter eggs to the kids. The kids could look at their shiny bikes and enjoyed the time with the riders. Thanks to all riders present and secretary Inge Botha, as well as Celia, Jaques mum who baked cupcakes for the kids. The club plans to drive from Middelburg to Botswana on their bikes raising funds for Emmanuel towards end April. The club need sponsors in order to do this run for the home. Contact details: ingebotha@rocketmail.com

A great project and we are grateful for supporters like this. Here's a photo of the visit:

Counting our Blessings

2013 has been another successful year for ECYCC. We're very happy to have 11 children staying with us currently and the support of lots of people to do this. The home is now 4 and half years old since it took the Emmanuel name, and it continues to flourish, touched by the kindness of everyone who helps ECYCC in whatever way they best can. We would like to make special mention of people who we give our thanks to and wish a happy festive season:

For their support: Karen McEwan, Rhett Newton, Kobus van Straten, as well as Vicky and Gill for from Production Four13.

For their donations and sponsorship: Marna de Vos, Kevin Goddard, Mr. Cunningham, Agape Church,  St Barnabas Anglican Church, Bertus Deysel from Auto Body Repairs, Spar Middelburg, and Tinus du Plessis.

The staff; Dolly, Martha, and Martie who are our hard-working carers, as well as Johanna our administrator who has recently successfully started a Pastoral Care course.

Our board members; including Alfie and Jaco, who has taken on the role of Treasurer this year.

Our kind-hearted volunteers who come to experience life with us; Alex and Sophia, both from Germany.

And other people who have touched our heart:

• Trevor from Erin Country House who organised and ran an Art Auction fundraiser.
• Nehemia Ministries for the kids Xmas party.
• Hands on Africa for their special visit to the home.
• Transkaroo MTB for their long-distance cycling fundraiser event.
• The staff from the Wellness clinic and the Occupational Therapist for their successful help towards the well being of the kids. 
• Dr Willem van der Walt for his efforts with treating Sinakwe towards better health. 

Thanks to all and special wishes for everyone to have a successful 2014!

Trans Karoo Mountain Bike Tour

The excitement is growing, the days are flying past and riders and crew are preparing hard for this year’s great event from Middelburg to Port Elizabeth. 500km in 5 days on mountain bikes following gravel roads and jeep tracks across the Great Karoo raising funds for Emmanuel Child & Youth Care Centre.

It's one week to go until this tour starts so we hope the training is going well for all the riders. We would like to take this opportunity to pass on our gratitude to all our sponsors for their support of this tour and special thanks goes to Billy Teeton for organising this. 

Thanks also go out to Rhett (ECYCC Chairman) and Michelle Newton, as well as Agape Church, for accommodating the Transkaroo Team over the coming weekend. The team will visit the Emmanuel home on Saturday and we look forward to their arrival. Thanks also to Bertus (Board member) and Jaco Meyer (new Treasurer of the ECYCC board) for their part in making the team comfortable during their stay in Middelburg.

Visit the tour website for updates and photos of their progress: transkaroomtb.blogspot.com

Latest Fundraising

The KMMC (Karoo Mighty Men Conference) was recently held in Middelburg, which hosted 10,000 people! It's a growing cause and ECYCC has some good opportunities to get involved with the events. Some of our teenage boys (Ashley, Renier and Cecil) attended the conference and they had an awesome time which will be a great memory for them. Our dedicated activist Bertie ran a stall selling cool drinks and snacks for fundraising and said he never attended to so many people in his life in one weekend! Rhett Newton organized the stall for us and we are grateful for his input and commitment as Chairman on the board of ECYCC. Thanks to Bertie and the girls (Jannie's daughters) for their hard work selling.

ECYCC is lucky to have friends like Rhett and his colleague Billy Teeton. They have organised and are riding in the Transkaroo bike ride in June. Through their fundraising efforts they will support ECYCC which is wonderful news which we are very grateful for. Last year there were over 300 entrants and we hope for even better this year for them. Wish them and their team good luck. We'll post more news and photos around this story when they become available.

Our Supporters

We were very happy to receive a visit from Francke Ferreira, winner of Eastern Cape's Miss Summer Heat pageant. Francke came bearing gifts for the children and donations which she tirelessly collected through fundraising activities. She brought her us her warmth to the house and the children were so pleased to meet here as you can see below. We cannot thank you enough Francke...

We are also grateful to our friends over in the UK. Recent volunteers Mark and Marlin, plus friends and family (Rob, Paul and Brian), undertook a big sponsored challenge to climb the three highest mountains in the UK (Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales), all in the space of 24 hours. Their hard work paid off, completing it in 23 hours and 38 minutes, and as a result raising over £3000 for the Emmanuel home. We thank everyone who showed kindness in sponsoring the boys, there are too many good names to mention but recognise their contribution. Well done and thank you for giving more hope to our children!

Get Involved

How you can help:

• Donations
• Food sponsorship
• Fundraising
• Volunteer work

Please contact us on emm.childrenshome@gmail.com if you can support us in these ways, or any other assistance you think would be of use.

Emmanuel Children's Home now has a Facebook group where you become part of our community - you can join it by clicking here.