Friday, June 24, 2011

Top 3 Ethembeni computer students

COMPUTER SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

The ETHEMBENI FAMILY CENTRE was donated 6 computers by the Starfish Foundation – part of the Coca-Cola grant. These computers are being put to excellent use by the staff at the centre and the school children. Shân Cade runs a voluntary computer skills development programme weekly for staff and children, and the fruit thereof can be seen.

The first computer class started in March 2011 with 5 lovely children – 4 girls and a boy. We started with the very basic fundamentals of computers like: computer hardware, computer software, the information system, Keyboard fingers.

Each lesson the children are given a one page handout for their files, covering the details of that particular lesson. They have been very diligent in reviewing these documents constantly and can now answer most questions instantly.

We have recently started doing some practical “word and Excel” work and we are learning in a really fun way.

Aligned to being able to use the computer well are the business aspects to computer usage. These fundamental business practices like, a professional finish, letter writing, excel spreadsheet set-up, spell check, logos, signatures, time management, etc, are also being covered, not in great depth but enough depth to get them thinking “business”.

Developing the computer skills of the staff at Ethembeni is twofold:-
1) Empowering them to manage and perform professionally to business standards
2) To assist the children outside of computer lessons

Ethembeni wants to develop the computer training into something worthwhile and accredited – this will enable them to offer the Mpophomeni community training at affordable rates, and generate additional income for Ethembeni –THE PLACE OF HOPE.

Thanks to Coca-Cola and the Starfish Foundation for their invaluable support of Ethembeni in donating these computers.

THE LETTERS FOLLOWING WERE DONE BY OUR TOP 3 COMPUTER STUDENTS, from their hearts... This is very encouraging.

LETTER 1.

Date:23 June 2011

Having computer lessons has made me have more knowledge of the insides and outsides of the computer especially, the basic stuff and the rules on how to handle the computers.
Leaning about computers for me has been much fun, I really enjoy going to my classes but most of all is being with my teacher who takes her time teaching and showing me the correct directions.
I have learned about page borders, how to change your page colour, writing in bold, italic and underlining, opening my own documents and presenting my work in the best of my ability.
Thank you starfish foundation for giving me this opportunity.

Mandisa

LETTER 2.

Date: 23 June 2011

Since I started to came in MPOPHOMENI FAMILY CENTRE I gained many things like clothes food and everything .My father passed away onNOVEMBER 2005. So family centre staff are like my parents and children are like my brothers and sisters. They paid school fees for me since 2006 and that means A lots to me because I live with my granny and she cannot afford to do everything by her pension. They help us to do our homework because I was lacking at school.
When I started to came here I think I was 12 years old and now I am 16 years old. I am doing grade 10 at ASIBEMUNYE HIGH SCHOOL. Here I learned to use A computer. I am glad to be here. I feel at home and I thank them A lots and my computer teacher.

Thokozani

LETTER 3.

Date: 23 June 2011

Since I practise on thecomputer I gain more knowledge.
To make something like write letters and open my document.
I enjoy to having a computer skill.
In computer class I have to work very hard.
Thank you for helping me to get computer skills.

Alex

Ethembeni Stories June 2011

Ethembeni Stories June 2011

OUR YOUTH AND THEIR “PLACE OF HOPE” - ETHEMBENI
June the 16th celebrates “Youth day” in South Africa, and with this in mind we thought we’d let you have some snippets of news from the Ethembeni Family Centre. There is so much happening at the family centre on a daily basis, as children are dropped off by their siblings who rush off to school, and then the day starts……
The family centre is exactly that – a centre where the little, non school going children can be left under the gentle and loving care of the family centre staff. These little children have quite a hectic programme designed to stimulate their growth as little human beings, as well as being kept healthy through correct eating habits during the day.
Their programme includes developing their skills in various ways like, drawing, ball games, puzzles, team games, Bible stories, climbing, as well as great ways of developing their social skills.
The Ethembeni Family Centre literally brings HOPE to these children whose families are headed up by the older children, having lost their parents. This family centre accommodates approximately 70 children, which is a drop in the ocean compared to the number of families out in Mpophomeni that are affected by HIV/AIDS and need HOPE.
The most amazing sight is seen when you arrive at the family centre, and all these children greet you with enthusiasm, a smile and a huge amount of noise – they all talk at once. The Lord’s heart must be very glad when he looks at this place of refuge, for these families who are determined to survive under very difficult circumstances.
We at Ethembeni are privileged to serve, protect and love these children, and express our thanks to those of you who support the ministry with prayer, time, skills and finance……. We could not do it without you.

May the Lord richly bless you as you partner with us and bring hope to broken families.

Yours in Christ

Shân Cade
Sub-Editor

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A very encouraging letter from our partners - Dlalanathi!


3 June 2011
Dear Zwe and Grant,
It was such a delight reading the feedback report from your implementation of Family Support submitted by Pinky. What a wise decision to have those trained pair up to facilitate the sessions together and ideal to have you Zwe, available simply to offer support. The feedback makes it clear that your facilitators understood and held an emotional safe space for caregivers. There seems to have been much integrity in the way that they facilitated hard discussions, offered support, motivated participants to engage with the play skills, encourage emotional connections with their children and hold the overall process. Well done!! 50 caregivers were reached through this group work process and in turn, a greater number of children reached back in their households. This is the power of Family Support.
We would like to encourage you to continue to offer Family Support to the caregivers you work, even if you plan to run one group a quarter. Family Support is great for the children in your centre, but is also a fantastic prevention programme as it strengthens families before they unravel. We also want to acknowledge that Ethembeni does a lot to provide emotional support to those who are doing the work and this is to be commended as it is not often seen.
dlalanathi is so privileged to be in partnership with Ethembeni. Your desire to serve children and families professionally, your commitment under difficult circumstances and your constant ability to celebrate the transformation and change that you see is a gift.
With gratitude,
Robyn
dlalanathi Operations Director goto www.dlalanathi.org.za

A story of Hope - the Dlamini Family


The Dlamini family started to attend Mpophomeni Family Centre in March 2009 which means they been with us for about 2 years now. Whey they started their situation at home was not good – their relationships were not right. Their mother was sick as reported to us by our home based care teams. There were 6 children in this family and two care givers. All the children had birth certificates and were receiving R250 per month as a child support grant from SA government but that was not enough to feed the whole family since the care givers were not employed and one was sick. We assisted the family to apply for their full birth certificates so that they can apply for foster care grant which is R720 per month.

This family lived in one yard but in two separate dwellings – not having a shared dwelling where they could cook and eat together lead to family tensions. When we started we had to work on relationships as well from the children up to the care givers. At school the children were not doing well... One of the children was assessed and we find out that she had a sight problem. We took her to hospital now she wears glasses thanks to our nursing sister who helped us get her glasses.
They are getting the foster care grant now and 2 of the children got a chance to know God which was very exciting to see God at work! They are attending a local church thanks to the spiritually discussion group where we are helping them and growing them up in knowing God. The care giver is now well and the income has improve, Zola one of the care giver is working in a project that is run by Ethembeni in partnership with Wedgewood, they were making ribbons that has contributed to the income of the family. We have decided to close with the family-praise be to God who have helped us to bring life and hope in this family.