My Transforming Journey at Ethembeni!!

Well after a month at Ethembeni I can definitely say that my life has changed! When the 9 of us walked into the Family Centre I dont think any of us imagined how challenging, exciting and emotional it would be. We built so many amazing friendships with the children and the staff and I was particularly touched by the hospitality shown to us throughout our stay.



We started our stay with 2 weeks of holiday club at the family centre with around 60 children showing up every day! We visited Umgeni Valley where we went on a nature walk and saw zebras much to our excitement! We also introduced the children to some of our songs, dances and games, after the children showed us some Zulu dancing we taught them the YMCA, I really hope they dont think it is our national dance! We had sports days with netball, football, relay races and sack races and craft activities and much much more. We also then helped out at Ethembeni gardening for a few days, we were joined by an amazing group of ladies who put our gardening and trench digging skills to shame! When the amazing Richard and Lisa left they donated a jungle gym for the family centre children to play on this went down very well as you would imagine with the children!





























































































I just thank God so much for all the blessings he has given me in Mpophomeni, the stories told, the friendships made and most of all for the changes that I have made since being back in the UK. Mainly my way of thinking and approach to situations. Seeing and meeting people with such serving hearts, hospitable families and amazingly grateful attitudes really touched me and challenged me to re-think my attitudes towards situations in my life and realising how much I have got to be grateful for. I want to say a huge thankyou and send a Kamorga to all the staff at ethembeni, and the family centre and the amazing families that we stayed with! God really blessed our stay, and I pray that he would keep pouring his abundant blessings and love on his children in Mpophomeni. I will leave you with a few beautiful shots of Mpophomeni!

Rachel.

Transform Team UK

From the 2nd to the 29th July 2009, Mpophomeni and the Family Centre has been home to nine God inspired and transforming christians. These young adults came to serve Jesus and in the process transformed all they met through sharing God's love abundantly! Some highlights of their experience where:

• A children's holiday club where Ed got to act as an Idols judge!


• News games and workship songs


• A walk in Umgeni Nature reserve where Helen competed with the Zebra for devotional space


• Mama Nellie and Primrose from Zulu Mpophomeni Tourism


• Jesus becoming the "best friend" to many vulnerable children

We praise God for using Helen, Clare, Sophie, Alex, Becs, Beth, Johnny, Ed and Rachel to fill us with His love.

MAC AIDS Leadership team visit

Monday 29th June saw 14 hope builders from all over South Africa visit Ethembeni as part of the MAC AIDS Leadership program. Each of these 14 inspiring and determined Africans are going to implement an AIDS prevention plan in their community. We shared with them our joys and challenges especially by advocating that Jesus be the centre of all interventions. His love is lasting and transformational! Amen.

The Mpophomeni Talent Show

On Thursday 25 June the Mpophomeni Family Centre hosted The Mpophomeni Talent Show. The turnout was massive (400 children and their teachers) and everyone had to pay for their ticket to get in. This was a big succes and all the proceeds of the day will go directly to the Mpophomeni Family Centre.

As you can see, Lisa was on the team the very strict judges, together with Samke, Zwe, and Bongani

Mpophomeni Clean-up Day!

We are organising the Mpophomeni Clean-up Day on the 29th of June!

The Ethembeni Organisation is dedicated to work as 'green' as possible and to teach our children and staff to care for our communities and to raise everyone’s awareness to take care of our planet. We sort all our waste and all major disposable reusable items end up in the appropriate recycling bins. Litter especially is an eyesore that despoils our community.

Accordingly, Ethembeni is organising a Mpophomeni Clean-up Day on the 29th of June where all staff and children of the Family Centre and Ethembeni are encouraged (and rewarded) to take part in our Mpophomeni Clean-up Day. We have selected the field in front of the Family Centre as our designated Clean Up Area as it will look great over the next Holiday Club period.

We are thrilled that our uMngeni Municipality have partnered with us and that they will supply all the resources we need for our day. Their Recycling Staff will be on site to help and guide us and they will provide us with bags and gloves and, very importantly, will remove all the waste we collect.

It’s currently winter in South Africa and residing in the mountainous region of KwaZulu Natal it gets very cold! Homes are not insulated nor is there any heating and many kids come to the Family Centre in the only clothing they own, which is their summer clothes. That is why we have decided to reward all participating children with a warm hat with Mpophomeni Family Centre logo embroided on it for all children who take part in this fun filled day. See our dog Harry with the hat!

Be on the look out for the photos of the kids on our Mpophomeni Clean-up Day, as always on this blog!

Mdu’s presentation at the Family Centre

Mdu’s presentation at the Family Centre

Last month the Family Centre was visited by Mr Mdu Mchunu from DUCT. DUCT is the Duzi-uMngeni Conversation Trust and is dedicated to the environmental health of the uMsunduzi and uMngeni rivers. Lisa, Lindiwe and I met Mdu in March at a meeting from DUCT in Howick and the four of us started talking about the issues with our environment and specifically in Mpophomeni.

Mdu joined us all at the Family Centre for the whole afternoon to speak about Environmental issues and to raise the children and staff's awareness of our precious environment. Mdu gave a very interesting and interesting presentation titled “My area is my Environment” and all the children were very involved and engaged which was so inspiring as we need our children and staff to be aware and cautious about our environment and their and our future.

This presentation ties in with Ethembeni's ambition to care better for our environment and to raise everyone’s awareness to take care of our planet. Accordingly, Ethembeni is organising a Mpophomeni Clean-up Day on the 29th of June where all staff and children of the Family Centre and Ethembeni are encouraged to take part in our Mpophomeni Clean-up Day.

Foundation Play Skills for Bereaved Children

"Play is work for children- never underestimate the power of play to bring about healing" - Violet Oaklander

Recently two members of Ethembeni care worker staff facilitated a week long training workshop on Foundation Play Skills. Attendees consisted of several Ethembeni staff members along with staff members from the local Friends for Life organization.

The training centered around using play therapy interaction to help children affected by death and loss. Staff learned how to plan several different play sessions such as stories and puppets, clay and drawings and coping play. The training was originally developed by Rob Smetherham Bereavement Service for Children (RSBSC).

The training was a great success and all those who participated look forward to implementing their new found play skills therapy soon!

A special thanks to Linda Smallbones, Social Worker for Ethembeni who originally introduced the training workshop last year to a few members of the family center staff last year. Linda is thrilled to see the very same staff who attended the training now successfully facilitating the very same workshop!

The whole group of teachers and students together