Hope, Light, and Love

In the townships of South Africa, many children are having their education neglected for various reasons. For some, they're unable to get a copy of their birth certificate, which prevents them from enrolling in a township school. Another reason may be that they live with a parent or caregiver who is suffering from AIDS or alcoholism. Therefore, taking a child to school isn't seen as a high priority.

The Community Health Evangelist's (CHE's) in Sweet Home wanted to change all of this, so they started a school in 2010 for children aged 6-13. They started this school in a room without furniture, very few materials, and teachers who did not have any sort of formal education about how to teach. In addition, they started a creche (preschool) for infants through about the age of 5.

Last year, when I heard about these schools, I knew God was calling me to go and serve in South Africa. During the time I was there, I was blessed to provide trainings for the teachers and learn more about their heart to serve and bless their students. So, of course, I was excited to go back this summer and see what kind of growth had occurred over the past year at these schools.

Indeed, there was a lot of growth. Through the support of my church, ROCKHARBOR, there is a new building in Sweet Home for the creche. One of the teachers there, Lindiwe, whom I met last year, is now the principal of the school. Lindiwe shared with me that she is currently enrolled and taking classes at one of the university's for child development. It was great to hear about how God was continuing to bless these women as they endeavor to bring hope, light, and love to the children of Sweet Home.


The inside of the creche where the books I made last year were posted on the wall.



The creche principal, Lindiwe, with some of the students outside of the new school building.

Last year, I trained the teachers on the basics of child development and lesson planning. This year, with the help of my friends, Lailanie and Brent, we provided them with specific trainings about how to teach language and literacy as well as math skills from infancy to grade 6. The teachers were receptive to everything we had to say, and they were good sports when it came to participating in activities such as writing letters in shaving cream and playing "addition war" on the chalkboards. You can check out some of the pictures from our 2 trainings with the teachers below.

Just like last year, the CHE's energy and desire to teach these kids in a building where there isn't furniture and has very few materials encourages me and calls me into a deeper understanding of what it means to truly serve and bless children no matter where God has called you in life.