You might remember our friends of OM and the project we supported in India.
OM South Africa has a ministry and school in the village of the Rain Queen in Modjadji, in the Limpopo province in South Africa. The ministry is held together with Tshega. The school is located in a rural area with about 1 million inhabitants, but virtually no well-functioning schools. OM tries to break the cycle of poverty through education and thereby give children the opportunity to (higher trade exhibition) education.
This is very important, as South Africa has a high-cost, low-performance education system that does not compare favourably with education systems in other African countries, or in similar developing economies.
There is a multitude of well-publicised problems, including a shortage of teachers, under qualified teachers and poor teacher performance. In the classroom this results in poor learner standards, a lack of classroom discipline and is exacerbated by insufficient resources and inadequate infrastructure. On a government level, difficulties have been caused by a failure of appropriate inspection and monitoring, and confusion caused by changing curricula without proper communication and training. This country’s world ranking does not paint a more positive image — South Africa is ranked 136 out 205 countries in terms of the number of people 15 and older who can read and write. (Martin Prew – Department Education)
Poor education and the high unemployment rate snow balls in more than half of the nation without purpose and hope. There is nothing worse than an uneducated person without hope. This results into frustration and a negative reaction of substance abuse, crimes, rape, prostitution, teenage pregnancies, health issues and more. (National Planning Commission’s Diagnostic Overview)
Tshega believes that South Africa can dramatically change if the focus is more on education. In 2015, the Lighthouse Academy Primary School and Lamb’s Haven Kindergarten host 295 children. The program adopts a vulnerable or orphaned child for every 10th student in the school. This enables Tshega to sustain the program.
Mission: To support vulnerable people from infancy to late adulthood to develop themselves, others and to become people with good principles and values whilst following Christ’s call in sharing the Gospel with the world through God’s wisdom and strength. We fulfil our mission not out of duty but love for one another.
Vision: To teach poor, orphaned, HIV/AIDS affected and vulnerable people the skills to be self-supportive and self-sustainable. It is our commitment to measure impact, make a difference and having leverage for greater results.
Aim: Tshega’s aim is to support vulnerable families in the five human basic needs.
Physical Needs Food, clothes, hygiene support and physical education
Social Needs Social events and extra mural activities
Emotional Needs Counselling and prayer support
Mental Needs Education
Spiritual Needs House visits and encouragement when in need
Ellanie van Rooyen began 2004 with a kindergarden and keeps building. At least 1-2 new classrooms per year, to host the children as they get older. Right now they are building 3 new classrooms. As one is already funded and under construction, the other one is not yet funded.
For Fabulous Friends it’s a great joy, to be able to support this project.