kidcare JULY 2007
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CONTENTS FEATURES 4 It’s Not About Numbers, It’s About Human Life By Susie Djan
5 And What Does The Lord Want From You? By Rupa Panesar
10 Except The Lord Build The House… By Ray Djan
15 Meeting the mark of Unity: Challenges Of Working Together By Susie Djan
HOW YOU CAN HELP KIDCARE BENEFACTOR Benefactors give the vital financial support on a regular basis of any amount of their choice to the organisation to keep the ministry in operation. SPONSOR A CHILD You can sponsor an orphan, poor or destitute child to school today. ADOPT A PROJECT Please adopt any one of KIDCARE projects such as a nursery school, a children’s home, a youth development programme, support for bible school students, a feeding project or medical support in an area of need.
16 My Three Mission Trips By Charlene Mathison
30 Appreciation For Support
REPORTS
PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES UPDATES • Sponsor a child • Support for our children’s homes • Faith in Action is giving • Kidcare feeding programme • Medical care & Support • Schools and Youth care for others • Family Support • Youth development • Mission Partners in the UK • Organisational structure
• Who we are • Important notice for Sponsors • How you can help us • Caring for the carers • Praying for Kidcare • Publications Costs • Getting in touch with us
6 Report from the UK 8 Letters from our sponsored children 11 Report from Uganda 17 Report from the Philippines 19 Report from South Africa 24 Report from India 25 Report from the Ukraine 25 Report from Ghana
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YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY SUPPORT UK We are currently looking for assistance to develop and fund our youth development and family support base in the UK. Your assistance, advice, or funding towards this will be greatly appreciated. KIDCARE MISSION PARTNER KIDCARE will partner with churches, charities, schools, and organisations to work together on projects for the benefit of others. Each Project will be community based and would directly impact the development of children and their carers or families. KIDCARE REPRESENTATIVE Representatives promote the cause of needy children to individuals, churches, schools, community groups and other organisations and help in fundraising activities.
Children, Family & Community Christian Mission
Helping children, strengthening families and supporting communities worldwide in the name of Jesus
kidcare JULY 2007
Kidcare International, 67 Melfort Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7RT, England UK Tel/Fax +44 (0) 208 405 1511, +44 (0) 208 684 4339 Other cell net: - +44 (0) 7908 782 123 or +44 (0) 7719 590 054 Email: info@kidcare-international.org
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his year we celebrate eight momentous years of joys and challenges, setbacks and wonderful victories that have reinforced our deepest convictions that the Kingdom of God belongs to little children and He deeply cares about each and every child. It is a time to express our profound gratitude and those of the many KIDCARE children around the world for your loving support over the years through child sponsorship, encouragement through personal contact and letters and most of all, for your heartfelt prayers for the children and the work.
KIDCARE International was launched on Saturday April 17th in 1999, a day that was memorable, not only for the launch, but also for the fact that a bomb exploded about half a mile away from the launch venue at the Brixton underground station in London. The explosion severely affected travel to the venue and prevented many invited guests from attending the launch. In some ways, the bombing signified that the course of this work would be filled with many unexpected challenges. The need to stay focused on the vision and continually seek God’s assistance for His providence through prayer was the only means by which this work was going to be successful. On that day KIDCARE received the sponsorship of around 15 children for schooling in Uganda and South Africa. By the end of the weekend, 25 people had committed to sponsoring children. This was evidence of God’s blessing on the project and all were encouraged to continue in faith. As you read this newsletter, please remember that it is your giving, financially and in kind and your prayer support that has made the difference. For this, we once again say THANK YOU. Finally, we give all praise and glory to God, the source and sustainer of this vision, for what He has enabled KIDCARE to achieve through the giving and prayers of sponsors and benefactors.
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Together with you, we look forward to positively impacting the lives of many more children around the world with the message of the Kingdom of God and the love of Christ, our King. Yemi Akinsiwaju – EDITOR
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PRAYER PARTNERS Individuals or groups may choose to become prayer partners with KIDCARE. Prayer is vital in this ministry. Prayer Partners receive regular Prayer Newsletters.
Kidcare International
Celebrating 8 years of KIDCARE
This edition of our newsletter charts the course of KIDCARE from its inception to the present, highlighting the victories we have won, especially in the last year and our aspirations for the future.
REGULARS
SUPPORT FOR POOR FAMILIES You can sponsor a poor pastor’s family today by helping them with a regular donation to supplement their income on a short term basis or assisting them in an income generating investment.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief: Susie Djan Contributing Editor: Ray Djan Editor: Yemi Akinsiwaju Contributors: Rupa Panesar, Charlene Mathison Design/Layout: Imaginovation (www.imaginovation.co.uk) KIDCARE INTERNATIONAL
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67 Melfort Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7RT, England UK Tel/Fax +44 (0) 208 405 1511, +44 (0) 208 684 4339 Other cell net: +44 (0) 7908 782 123 or +44 (0) 7719 590 054 Email: info@kidcare-international.org KIDCARE magazine is published by KIDCARE INTERNATIONAL. © 2007 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
kidcare JULY 2007
It’s not about numbers,
it’s about
human life BY SUSIE DJAN
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he story is told of a man who saw a starving child shivering in the cold. Angrily he looked up and said, “God, how could you allow such suffering? Why don’t you do something?” There was a long silence and then he heard these words. “I did – I made you!” There is sometimes an overwhelming feeling that engulfs us all when we look at the wider problem of suffering and poverty in our world today. I personally feel the inadequacy of my own limited resources to help and how insignificant I am as an individual to really resolve some of these issues. I am not as influential as some of the statesmen and politicians of our time who have great potential to bring change. Neither do I personally have lots of money to give. There are people in our society who earn thousands of pounds a week! I am equally tempted to leave it to the politicians and the rich to sort some of these issues out. However I have come to realize that I do not need to feel helpless or paralyzed to do something. Every crisis that presents itself to a child of God is just an opportunity for God through us to make a difference in this world, however small or insignificant it may seem.
Caring for our children should not be clouded by statistics or politics that seeks to lay blame for who should have done this, or who didn’t do that. It takes just one person to make a world of difference in the life of that child who is sponsored to school or sent to an orphanage where he or she can receive loving Susie Djan is the Executive Director and founder of KIDCARE International and manages the executive office. She is a lawyer by profession. She has studied Child law and Access to Justice for the poor on a Masters Degree level at Kings’ College, London, and hence the practical outworking of these two specialised fields of law is seen in her devotion to the work of KIDCARE. At home in the UK, Susie manages the KIDCARE office. She also lectures law part time at the University of Greenwich, runs her own Consultancy business, supports her local church as an elder, and participates in various training programs outside the church. She is married to Ray Djan and has 4 children. When not at home she travels to various nations (together with her husband Ray, or with a team of others) where they train leaders and she teaches on various topics relating to family, church and community issues. Whilst abroad on KIDCARE trips, she spends time with the children and co-ordinates the work of KIDCARE with the partners abroad.
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Lord And what does the
care. It also takes one child to make a difference to our world. One baby (Moses) delivered from pharaoh’s executioners grew up to be the deliverer of a nation from slavery. One child given an opportunity by an act of benevolence, can one day make a significant difference in the destiny of his community, nation or somewhere in the world. Caring for our children should not be clouded by statistics or politics that seeks to lay blame for who should have done this, or who didn’t do that. We can and must go beyond politics to the decision that each one of us must make… choosing to make a difference to a suffering child, ignorant and blameless as to the politics of his suffering by sharing a little of what we have. I hope that reading this newsletter will encourage you, if you are already engaged in some act of giving to those less fortunate than your self, to keep doing so and even increase your giving if you can.
want from you? BY RUPA PANESAR
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rom early childhood I was conscious of issues of ‘inequality’ and ‘injustice’ in its different forms. Like so many others in my generation, stories about Martin Luther King’s civil rights fight, and in South Africa, the death of Steve ‘Biko’ in police custody, have had such a profound effect on my mindset. A verse in the bible is my understanding of the Christian obligation and the mandate God has given us. This I also believe is at the heart of Kidcare’s mission. Micah 6:8: ‘He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’
Rupa in a hut at Idoome village, Uganda It is my intention to serve the poor through the work of this charity so that in some way, however small, social justice, acts of mercy and the love of God can be put into practice in diverse ways to make a difference in the lives of some of this world’s disadvantaged. Rupa Panesar is a solicitor and currently a practitioner in criminal law. As the chair of the Kidcare Board of Trust, she offers invaluable advice on questions of policy and direction. Rupa supports all Kidcare activities to assist the poor of this world and has visited Uganda on a Kidcare mission trip.
If you are not currently supporting any charitable work or would like to increase your range of giving by helping some unfortunate children, please consider supporting the work of KIDCARE. Remember “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward him/her for what he has done” – Proverbs 17:17. We look forward to your support, now and in the future. And may God richly bless you as you demonstrate His love to the children through your partnership with KIDCARE. Susie Djan Kidcare Director.
Susie shares
her bottle of
water.
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REPORTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM
New Website Our new highly informative and interactive website has now been launched. It provides regular updates on our mission efforts and projects around the world. Visit us at www.KIDCARE-international.org and experience some of its special features including: 1. Sponsors can log in and write letters to their children via the internet. 2. There is a photo gallery, which shows memorable scenes in our work in different nations. 3. Sponsorship application forms, bulletins and newsletters can be downloaded. 4. A secure system of giving donations whether as a one-off or by regular standing orders can now be done via PayPal. PayPal will usually take a very small percentage of the donation for its administration fee.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES The main thrust of our activities in the U.K office over the last eight years has included: Co-ordination: This involves initiating projects in other parts of the world, providing administrative oversight and leadership and supporting the efforts of our project partners to achieve the common objective of improving the well-being and future prospects of all our KIDCARE children. Publicity: By utilizing networking opportunities and publicity events, we have sought to increase awareness in the U.K of the plight of underprivileged children around the world and improve the profile of KIDCARE International as an agency well positioned to assist such children effectively. This has included visiting primary and secondary schools during their assemblies, or youth clubs and church youth groups or other functions to educate children in the United Kingdom about how other children live in other parts of the world. Fund Raising: Through public events such as music concerts, charity dinners and the soliciting of sponsorship from kind-hearted donors, we have generated much of the funding that has supported our various projects that help the relief of poverty especially for children and their families in other parts of the world. Prayer support: We are actively engaged in mobilising continued prayer support for all our project workers and volunteers who work tirelessly and selflessly to assist the poor and destitute.
KIDCARE in partnership with True Vine International (a resource Christian ministry in the UK) continues to support families by facilitating and engaging in marriage seminars for couples.
COMPANY & CHARITABLE STATUS On the 16th of October 2006, KIDCARE changed its legal status in the UK to become a private company limited by the guarantee of its members. Since 1999, when KIDCARE was founded, it has operated under the banner and oversight of True Vine Church Trust (a registered charity under the legal jurisdiction of the Charity Commission, England and Wales). As a result, its annual financial accounts (from 1999 up to the 2005/06 financial year) were submitted as part of those of the True Vine Church Trust (details are available on the Charity Commission’s website - http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk). True Vine International Mission is still in partnership with KIDCARE international and provides the home church base of KIDCARE.
CHILD PROTECTION KIDCARE has secured membership of the CCPAS (Churches Child Protection Advisory Service). All our Trustees, directors and most voluntary staff whose work involves regular contact with children and vulnerable adults have undergone CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks and our membership entitles us to have more staff and volunteers checked. Our child protection policy is available and can be sent on request.
The new premises will serve as a place where families can come to receive support, advice or counseling. It will also serve as a youth centre, a training and development centre and also house the administrative offices of KIDCARE International. All financial support to enable us achieve this key objective will be greatly appreciated.
SEEKING NEW MISSION PARTNERS IN THE UK KIDCARE is seeking to partner with other ministries, churches, Christian fellowships, charities, schools, clubs, charities, NGOs, organisations and businesses, to work together on projects that will benefit children and families. Mission Partners make a commitment to initiate, manage or support some aspect of KIDCARE’s work through the provision of finances or a particular service on a regular basis for a period of time. Each partnership involvement is unique and provides a rewarding experience for all our partners. If your organisation would like to partner with KIDCARE, please contact us to arrange a discussion.
KIDCARE has also initiated a bible-based children’s club known as the +Zone whose aim is to support parents (whether they attend church or not and irrespective of whichever church they go to) to bring up their own children to know more about Christ.
their financial commitments. Please help us to fund this important area of our work if you are able to. Our current team (nearly all volunteers) is set out below: -
As a charitable private company limited by guarantee, KIDCARE International is subject to robust regulatory oversight by both the Registrar of Companies and the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales. This will ensure the continued high standard of financial accountability and administration in all of KIDCARE’s management.
We are seeking substantial funding to enable us secure suitable premises.
We are seeking to expand this work of providing Family and Youth Support. Our vision for the U.K and other nations encompasses the support of youngsters and their families who need assistance by providing a range of developmental programmes such as premarital and marriage seminars, parenting classes and youth services amongst others in order to strengthen the foundations of the family unit.
OUR UK TEAM
KIDCARE International received its own charitable status on 1st March 2007. Kidcare therefore is a not for profit charitable limited company The Trustees of KIDCARE International remain subject to general charity law, must always act with appropriate care and must keep within the charitable objects and powers defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
WE NEED AN OFFICE
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FAMILY AND YOUTH SUPPORT
The trustees and the Executive office are committed to the consolidation of the work and successes achieved so far. We are also dedicated to continued innovation in the delivery of our projects and the generation of funding to support the projects.
Musanda Manduli
One area of need is for more volunteers to assist in representing, marketing and publicising the work of Kidcare International. We currently have a team who assist in a voluntary capacity with various aspects of administration of the work. As a matter of necessity, Kidcare has taken the step of employing paid staff who will undertake most of the office work and day-to-day administration of KIDCARE in London. We are pleased to announce the appointment of Musanda Manduli as Kidcare administrator to assist in the expanding work of Kidcare administration. Raphael Haley has also assisted in administration this year, but is having to move on with his education. We also wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to Sarah Quinten Sey, our previous administrator for her unstinting service to KIDCARE and pray for her continued success as she also pursues higher education. We would like to appeal for benefactors who will give a regular amount to support allowances for our staff members. We believe that if we do have paid staff, they can devote their time and energy to this work without the worry of having to find a job elsewhere to meet
Executive office Susie Djan (Chief Executive Director) Ray Djan (International Missions Director) Davinia Roberts (Finance administrator – Donations) Musanda Manduli (Office Administrator) Patrick Quao (Finance Administrator – Receipts) Victoria Osei Bonsu (+ZONE children’s ministry and Prayer Bulletin Editor) Yemi Akinsiwaju (Editor – Kidcare Newsletter) William Osei Bonsu (Mission Partners’ UK Representative) Charlene Mathison (Representative) Board of Trustees Rupa Panesar (Chair) Evans Macdonald (Treasurer), Cecil Addy, Rebekah Cannon (Secretary) Susie Djan (Co-opted and non voting Trustee) Ray Djan (Co-opted and non voting Trustee) Advisory Board Chris Brown Malcolm & Rosemary Crow Kwasi & Naa Adei Boateng Theresa McFarlane Thank you for taking the time to read through this report of our work. If there is any way you can assist us or there are observations that you would like to share with us, or enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Rebecca Cannon
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REPORTS LETTERS FROM OUR SPONSORED CHILDREN Dear sponsor, This season everything is alright It’s time to say hello to you again. same applies to you in London. here in South Africa and I think the and it is my last year in this school Its now 2007 and I am doing grade 8 ther school. Thank you for helping because next year I will be going to ano to get here. that’s why they did not give me my In December I had lost some books and the lost books and so now I have my school report.Thank you for paying for subjects, but did not pass English school report. I have passed most of my well in Sesotho and got a merit. I and Afrikaans and technology. I did very are doing for me. thank you very much for what you injured on the foot, but I am trying Also the first month of this year, I was my studies. I went to the swimming to go to school because I will be behind e was an iron metal which is very pool with my friend and on the steps ther ause I did not see it. dangerous. I hit my foot on this bec footballer from Kaizer Chiefs for you. I have drawn a picture of my favourite andpayingformyshoesandschool Thankyouverymuchfortheschoolfees lost books. uniform. Thank you for paying for my Your son, Raymond.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL SPONSORS Communicating to your sponsored child has been made a lot easier if you have access to the internet. Please visit our website at
www.kidcare-international.org and click on the SPONSORS LOG-IN button on the right hand side and register. You can write a letter to your child online, which will be delivered to your child via email through the co-ordinator. Communicating with your sponsored child by emailing them or writing to them means a lot to them. If you are writing to them, please send all letters via Kidcare offices in the UK, and please omit your own personal address and telephone number. If you wish to add a small parcel, for e.g. colour pencils, book, balloons, etc. please supply additional postage stamps or a donation towards postage. We will ask that you do not write or send money or gifts directly to your child. Thank you. kidcare JULY 2007
kidcare JULY 2007
REPORT
Except the Lord build the house…’
FROM UGANDA
‘
MISSION TRIP TO UGANDA JULY 2007
The 2006 team. Charlene, Rosemary, Susie and Cheryl
BY RAY MICHAEL DJAN In Psalm 2: 8, God the Father says to the Son whom He has set as King on His holy hill of Zion, “Ask of Me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” The earth with its fullness and all those who dwell on it belong to the LORD. The enemy through deceit may have temporarily enthroned himself as the god of this world. However since the victory of Christ Jesus on the cross, the intention of God to repossess His inheritance, the nations, has been made clear and the fulfilment of this prophetic psalm is upon us. Jesus restates this intention in Matthew 20: 18-20 when He commands His body the church, to go into the world and preach the gospel and make disciples, teaching them to observe everything that He has taught us. The apostolic Great Commission is an all compassing commission and not just an evangelistic one. Jesus the Head has sent His Body by the power of His Holy Spirit to express His fullness in the earth and to give the nations, a tangible witness in word and deed so they can believe and be established in the Truth of His Word and partake of His life, character, works and eternity. This mandate requires pastoral care as well as teaching, to nurture and ground the people in the Truth. It also needs prophetic insight and foresight to enable the church to know and have God’s heart and perspective at all times. We in KIDCARE International believe that our mandate in the context of this apostolic commission is to reach out to children, families and their communities in practical ways as
well as through the teaching of His Word. This process involves meeting some of the physical needs and challenges they face as well as helping in a myriad of ways to alleviate poverty and destitution. We seek to bring the heart of God to the people and communities He sends us to, and see this as a practical outworking of His love as well as an opportunity to reiterate His invitation to people everywhere to receive eternal life. Ultimately we want to see them saved and established in the kingdom of God. We see our provision of food, shelter and education as a means to the fulfilment of their eternal purpose. Mark 8: 36 says “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?”
We seek to bring the heart of God to the people and communities He sends us to.. Without this focus on the ultimate purpose of God all other things we do will be meaningless in the long run.
VISIT TO VILLAGES IN UGANDA This year KIDCARE extended its work in Uganda by visiting 4 other remote villages in the south of Uganda. Busiya. Here we met a small community whose church met under a tree. We had a little service there where we prayed for the sick in the community. A gift of cash was given to the local leader to assist in any priority needs for the children in that community. 4 children were brought forward to be considered for sponsorship. They were all orphans. Rosemary and other members of the team gave a short talk and prayers were made. The leader of the ministry is David Mugweri.
It is our continued desire to see the Lord lead the work of KIDCARE by His spirit in all aspects of the work because we recognize that “except the Lord build the house they labour in vain who build it”. This work is not something that is manmade or born out of the ambition or desire of a man or a woman. God has initiated this so as to touch children, families and communities in far-flung places as far apart as the Philippines and Uganda with His love and Kingdom rule.
Ray Michael Djan is a Development Consultant, a mentor and trainer in leadership, as well as a teacher to the body of Christ in general. Ray Djan assists in the management of KIDCARE by providing advice, support and connections with organizations, churches and community leaders in all the nations KIDCARE works in. His particular role is to assist in the consultation process of cocoordinating the work with Kidcare partners and co-ordinators both in the UK and abroad. He is also the General Director, pioneer and leader of True Vine International, a resource ministry based in London, UK and also the senior minister of True Vine Church.
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A team of four ladies went on a successful 8th KIDCARE mission trip to Uganda in July of 2007. The team consisted of Rosemary Crow, a trustee, Charlene Mathison a youth representative, Cheryl and Susie Djan. For Rosemary, it was an eye opener as this was her first trip to Uganda. Each member of the team had lots of opportunity to chat with the children. The usual work undertaken during a KIDCARE mission trip occupied them for the two weeks stay there. Visits to schools, homes, travelling to the villages, talking with guardians, parents, co-ordinators, teachers etc, shopping for clothes, shoes, toys and books for the children, speaking at churches, schools and other events. There was never a dull moment.
The church at Busiya which meets under a tree.
Idoome. Kidcare has supported the village for the last 7 years. 23 children have been taken from the poverty of this village into
our KIDCARE homes and have been educated. Many are now in secondary schools and a few (3) have moved on into their own trade having finished their education. Idoome is a very poor village and a lot of the children there are orphans. AIDS and other diseases have unfortunately taken its toll on the community. By supporting the children of Idoome, KIDCARE is sowing into the future of that community. All the children who are taken from the village into good schools by Kidcare Children at church in Namwendua celebrate what Jesus has done. are continually reminded of their roots and are asked to go back to the village during school church on Sunday. Again, children and the villagers enthusiastically welcomed holidays to be with guardians and to assist in farming. Currently there are 10 KIDCARE. Another feast was given under the sponsorship of KIDCARE and a donation of children who desperately need sponsorship from this place of poverty to go to school. cash was given to the leader of the project to assist the children. Once again those who Here there are very few men. The person had medical needs were seen to. Subsewho was looking after the local church (a mud structure) was a youth. A sum of money quently in 2007 more money has been sent was given to the village elder to assist the to assist in the nursery school plant. children in their needs. Also a lady was taken to hospital using the KIDCARE minibus and her medical needs were paid for. This lady would OUR WORK IN NORTHERN UGANDA, have died without KIDCARE’s timely arrival GULU AND LIRA and intervention. A feast was prepared for the whole village under the sponsorship of One of the highlights of Kidcare’s mission KIDCARE. Susie, our KIDCARE director gave a trip in 2006 was to go to Northern Uganda, short talk to the whole village. to the war torn areas of Gulu and Lira. There has been much suffering there. A truce has finally been effected after a 20year war in northern Uganda. This war has been described by the UN’s head of humanitarian affairs, Jan Egeland, as the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world. About 20,000 children have been caught up in a conflict between government forces and a group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army. More than one million people have fled their homes. Many thousands, many of them children have left their homes and wander around every night looking for shelter and a safe haven. Much of what Kibetto village was full of children has been happening here has been reported in the BBC news and can be found on the BBC website. http://news.bbc. Kibetto The Kidcare team travelled some co.uk/1/hi/world/africa distance, not on a tarred road, but on what seemed to be a bush path. It seemed to go It has always been too dangerous for on forever and we were surrounded by the KIDCARE’s mission teams to go there. So red soil of Uganda and lots of trees, shrubs for the last 3 years, we have assisted the and bushes. Finally after a very bumpy ride, communities there by sending blankets children appeared from the grass, behind trees and bushes and hailed with joy the arrival of the KIDCARE team. Here a church full of children sang and welcomed the team. KIDCARE as in the other villages gave a sum of money for the needs of the poor, gave a talk to the whole community and arranged a feast for all the children. Namwendua. In this village, True Vine International, a partner charity organisation with KIDCARE bought some land the previous year. We visited the land to see how the project was progressing especially as a nursery school had been built there. The structure doubled up as a
At Lira refugee camp
and relief via the KIDCARE co-ordinator in Uganda, Pastor James Bwengye. KIDCARE
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has also taken several children from the refugee camps and brought them down to KIDCARE children’s homes in the south. In 2006, the team were keen to see first hand where these children came from. After setting off from Jinja at around 9 in the morning, and 9 hours of a tiring bus journey through many towns of Uganda such as Iganga, Mbale and Soroti, the team finally arrived at Lira, thoroughly exhausted.
At Gulu refugee camp. The children at the camp
What they saw shocked them and made them happy they came all the way. Those in the camps had been waiting for them all day and were overjoyed to have visitors from London. The situation in Lira was very bad and the poverty was appalling! Blankets were given to the refugees living in these camps. A donation of money was given and the team talked with the villagers there and encouraged them. They had to rush off after spending only an hour at the camp to journey onward to Gulu. Many feared that they were travelling at nighttime and that it might not be safe. However by God’s good providence, the team arrived safely at around 9pm and checked in at Acholi hotel and had a nice hot shower! The next day the team visited the local and only hospital in that area for miles and donated a suitcase full of medicines donated by a benefactor in Scotland. The team visited another refugee camp and once again the team were saddened to see the living conditions of the refugees. The team were warmly welcomed by the villagers in the camp who sang and danced enthusiastically for them. They had actually prepared a small meal for the KIDCARE team – this was really touching – that out of their poverty and suffering they shared the little they had. Again KIDCARE donated blankets, slippers, and other provisions to those in the camps. There were tears of joy and laughter as we talked together. The work of Kidcare in the north in the camps of Lira and Gulu continue. At the moment Kidcare assists by sending blankets and much needed provisions to those in the camps. The children are desperate to leave the camps and settle in children’s homes and receive a proper education. All the children who Kidcare have taken from the camps and brought them up in the KIDCARE orphanages have thrived. They are doing very well and 3 of them are now in excellent secondary boarding schools near Kampala. They all visit the camps where they
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came from during school holidays to stay connected with guardians. All of them are orphans with terrible histories and life stories. Please help KIDCARE to support the victims of cruelty and civil war in Northern Uganda.
A MINI BUS FOR KIDCARE’S WORK IN UGANDA. From previous years, the need to buy a mini bus for the work in Uganda became more and more urgent. A lot of money was spent in hiring cabs and buses to transport children from the children’s home to boarding schools. The general work of overseeing the work in all the regions that Kidcare was involved in was also required much funding. On several trips each year by teams from London, we always witnessed an accident and finally were involved in an accident ourselves. The need to have safe and carefully driven cars became an issue. In January 2006, Kidcare started to raise funds for a minibus. This was to be our 7th year birthday present to the work in Uganda. Our initial aim was to raise at least £6,000 by the summer, so that a visiting team could see the minibus in action when one arrived for a visit in July. By July Kidcare had raised £4359. Initial reports coming from Uganda when Ray Djan went over in June was that a minibus was costing around £7,800. As with all things, much prayer went into this and finally Ray found an excellent bus going for around £6000 which he was able to bargain for £4800! Well, KIDCARE bought the bus with the money raised and funds donated by benefactors.
Ray just after purchasing the mini bus for Kidcare’s work
A team from the UK were overjoyed to see this bus on the visit to Uganda in July. It was fully air-conditioned, very comfortable, with much room and in excellent condition. The team were pleased to see the children using the mini bus to and from the home, and the team were able to do several trips to various villages and across Uganda from the south to the north with the mini bus to visit refugee camps (whilst carrying all supplies, medicines, blankets etc.). Praise Be to God! Thank you very much for all who donated to this cause. You want to be a part of what we are doing?
Please visit www.kidcare-international.org for more information.
KIDCARE AND SCHOOLS IN UGANDA A. NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS LUBYA COMMUNITY NURSERY SCHOOL. UGANDA as a nation has been ravaged by wars and hit by HIV/AIDS which has left many vulnerable children. KIDCARE supports the Disciples of Christ Church in Namuungona, Uganda, in the use of a church hall to make a difference to the poor in the community. This hall caters for at least 75 children daily, providing nursery care and food. Currently KIDCARE supports staff salaries and have assisted in building a new classroom block.
go towards the medical care of sponsored children in the school. The school has seen tremendous progress with classroom floors being cemented, walls plastered, screened and painted, and a much needed administration block built. Other tangible provisions given to the school include running water, water tank, furniture, cupboards, table, chairs, books, cups and plates etc. In the year 2002 Kidcare raised funds to complete the building of a children’s home and later in 2005 a home for the boys.
FUTURE PLANS
Reverend Emmanuel says’ “We seek to encourage excellence in Christian living and leadership. Young as the children are, they are not going to remain little. They are going to grow. Our belief is that many here will become the future community leaders.
• For God to provide funding for the construction of Teachers’ quarters.
So we thank God for the relationship and input of Kidcare that they share with us this vision for the poor in this community”. He also writes: To; The Executive director, Staff and sponsors of KIDCARE International Greetings in our Lord’s name. Our new nursery project, Lubya-Kidcare Community School
APPRECIATION When our team arrived in June 2006, we went on a tour round the school. We quickly realised that much more space was needed for the children, as 75 children could not be effectively taught in one big hall and a small classroom. There was a need for adequate kitchen and dining facilities and also toilets. The children were wonderful and well behaved. As in the last year, we divided them into groups, read stories, taught them songs and prayed for them. They in turn also sang some songs for us. One thing that was lacking was toys. There were no toys whatsoever! So we went on a hunt to find toys. This was not as easy as we expected, as we literally had to comb Kampala for toys. We bought toys, books and educational materials, paints, blackboards etc. The children really are progressing very well and their use of English language at such a tender age is amazing. This year Kidcare has embarked on supporting one of the teachers to pursue teachers’ training. BWEYOGERERE PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDCARE partners with Reverend Emmanuel and Florence Sunday’s work with poor families in Uganda. This takes place at Bweyogerere, a town on the outskirts of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. This school gives nursery and primary education the poor children in the area. Kidcare has sponsored over 23 children to this school and currently sponsors 15. Apart from sponsorship of children to school, Kidcare has continued through the donations of sponsors, to contribute towards the development of this school by monthly donations, which support building new classrooms and improve the state of existing classrooms. Donations also
A big thanks to our faithful God who gave KIDCARE vision for such a work. God has received praise, glory and honour among his people in the area where we serve because of the care and concern KIDCARE has given to the orphans for the last eight years. We also appreciate their regular and timely remittances which have helped us to be debt free. KIDCARE’s method of keeping in contact with the orphans by visiting them annually has made the children to forget that they are orphans. They posses smiling faces. A big thanks for the increase in food contributions to the children’s home which have helped to improve the diet of the orphans.
We are planning to build a Teachers’ quarters to avoid increasing rental costs. The school has a piece of land where we can construct these houses. PRAYER REQUESTS • That our children continue in the fear of God and others to accept Jesus to be the Lord of their lives.
We love you. Pastor Emmanuel and Florence Sunday are the co-ordinators of the KIDCARE Supported Children’s Home in Uganda
A letter primary
from
Standard
KIDCARE’s sponsored children have been attending this school for over 7 years. Over 15 children have had their school fees and other requirements met for this primary school in the town of Buwenge. Every year the school welcomes Kidcare teams to their classrooms to talk to the students, to speak to the whole school and teachers at school assembly and offer an exhibition of the children in excellent school performances. KIDCARE also donates various items to the school.
parents
Dear KIDCARE, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I just want to thank the lord for your support to the vulnerable children in our community, Uganda, and the world over. It is always my prayer and conviction that God continues to bless KIDCARE international more as this ministry grows. Also great thanks go to sponsors of all the children worldwide. I say thank you, thank you very much. On your last visit our school was very blessed to receive the following: 1) Foot wear – 18children got shoes and 4 children got socks 2) School fees for second term was paid for 12 poor children. 3) Lunch fees were also paid for these 12 children 4) Thank you for the financial support you give towards the rent of the children’s home attached to the school (Lily of the valley home) 5) A big thank you for the special lunch that was provided for all the children in the school.
DEVELOPMENTS
6) The cost of mattress, bed sheets, and blankets to support one of our new orphans to the children’s home
We painted one school block building and completed the renovation of the boys’ dormitory. The funds given from KIDCARE towards the building of our school has contributed towards this work
BUWENGE PARENT’S PRIMARY
STANDARD PARENTS PRIMARY
We pray that God opens more doors for KIDCARE to help more children around the world.
We completed last year 2006 successfully and 3 orphans sat for their primary leaving exams, and joined Secondary schools. One, David passed with first grade, Allen and Astone passed with second grades. The guardians and us are overjoyed that KIDCARE will continue to look after these orphans in secondary boarding schools.
Kidcare also supports the rent of premises for a children home for poor children, some who are orphans to stay near the school premises to be looked and cared for.
7) The gift of toys, educational materials, toothbrushes footballs to the school.
Kidcare visits Buwenge Parents Primary school assembly Uganda
ROSEPAK DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL This the latest school visited by Kidcare in 2006. This school has as one its aims to bring about self-expression in fluent English; therefore the language is the only medium of instruction at the school. Very impressive considering that English is their second and for some the third language. Its aims are to also to positively influence the child’s attitudes so that he/ she becomes an acceptable member of a modern society within which he/she is expected to live. This school sought the assistance of KIDCARE to support some of the poor who live in the area and who have no financial support to attend. The proprietor of the school is Rose Musoke.
and
Our future needs still remains to open up a separate home for the boys and to buy land to move into a much more suitable place for the school and children’s homes.
Our sponsored children from various schools meet up with us
Thank you all once again for the support you give to our school and to needy children. Yours sincerely, Phionah Mugabe.
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SECONDARY SCHOOLS SPONSORED CHILDREN
FOR
KIDCARE
extended relatives (if they have any) on their holidays.
Most of our children generally progress from primary to local secondary schools. The names of these schools are Luzinga Secondary School, Jinja Boys secondary school, Kira High School, Grace High School and PMM Girls secondary school in Jinja. Progressing from primary to the secondary schools involves big changes to KIDCARE children. It has been found to be in the best interests and welfare of the children, for them to live in boarding schools when they move on to the secondary level. Due to the travelling distance between the secondary schools and the orphanages, commuting daily is very expensive and not practical. To have the children commute incurs additional transportation costs, which we are unable to meet, but more importantly, we believe that such a daily commute affects our sponsored children’s ability to settle and focus on their studies. Additionally, we further believe that boarding within the confines of school rules and regulations provides an environment conducive to learning. The children return to their homes at the orphanages or with
In all cases the regular donations given to children for primary schools is not enough to meet the needs of secondary school children. Upon their progression to secondary school, KIDCARE usually advises an increase in sponsorship donations.
FUTURE NEEDS AND PLANS 1. Lubya Community School: - Kidcare needs your help to support the salaries of teachers who currently get around £25 a month and to assist in the building works of this school. Please help. Supporting the salaries of teachers by giving anything from £30 a month will be of great help. Assistance is also needed in building a new classroom block. 2. Help support 14 children at Idoome School who need sponsorship. £150- £200 a month can support these children who are at various levels of education. Support for children from other impoverished villages; Kibetto, Namwendua and Busiya with as little as £10 a month can support them in school
and assist in their medical care. Our prayers are that we can have contributions from a church or organisation who will seek to support the village or three or four sponsors whose contributions can make it possible for us to support all these children to school. 3. Kidcare started to support Standard Parents Primary School in July 2004. The school has rented a couple of buildings with which it caters for the poor children of the community. The buildings are poorly constructed, with very little plastering and covering from the elements. A lot of the children there are orphans or the children of very poor parents. The headmaster and the director lamented that the school has had to enrol many children who cannot pay the school fees otherwise they would become vagrants. This school needs support to either purchase land to build a school or buy another school building. Support of £5,000 will assist. 4. Help us support the camps in Gulu and Lira by the provision of relief items such as blankets, food and assisting the children to live in children’s homes.
PROFILE
MEETING THE
MARK OF UNITY CHALLENGES OF WORKING TOGETHER BY SUSIE DJAN “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! …For there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” – Psalm 133:1
G
od is moving people in different communities of the world to bring changes to those around them who are poor. I have found that many people in Africa and Asia who are called to work in this way are also poor people or people who are just managing to survive in their own economic environment. They have their own social and financial issues. One thing is common amongst them. Their own scarce resources do not appear to deter them from assisting others. On the contrary, they are being moved by God to assist others around them who are equally disadvantaged in their own communities.
differences in perspectives, cultural and racial diversities etc. Sometimes issues arise simply because people want to help. Those who oversee, support or assist the visionary in their work (be it those abroad, those within their communities, white or black) are often seen, mistakenly, as trying to take control of the vision. I often hear people who are supposed to be working as partners referring to each other as ‘those people’ ‘the blacks’ ‘the whites’ ‘they’ ‘us’ and so forth. This perpetuates divisions. Obviously each person can justify their attitude or reasoning. However, whatever their reasons for their attitudes, when people come together as
we do not turn our backs. This is where God commands the blessing – nowhere else.’ (Arthur Katz in True Fellowship) The quality of our relationship with the Lord must be equal to the quality of our relationship with those He has put around us. I believe that the practical outworking of Christian unity in the context of working together cross–culturally or multi–racially in community projects, must be seen in the following 7 areas: 1. A willingness to accept God’s love for us and love Him in return. This means being obedient to His will. 2. An acknowledgement that we can only be empowered to do His work through the context of His love working through us. We can daily ask God in prayer for this grace. 3. A commitment to accept each other as Christ has accepted us and be patient with each other as Christ is patient with us. 4. A deeper understanding and appreciation that God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses – whatever they may be. God covers us. This is not to say that we are not to aim at excellence in whatever we do. 5. We must be humble enough to receive input into our lives and/or work that will mature us and improve our productivity. 6. A readiness to apologise and forgive, reconcile and keep the bonds of peace at whatever cost. 7. And finally, a commitment to invest in eachother - time, prayer, material substance, fellowship etc. This is by no means an exhaustive full list but it captures some essential prerequisites for working together effectively. There is much to be said about all of the above points especially in the context of working together in a children’s ministry such as KIDCARE International.
In all things we must depend on the Spirit of God which is able to do far more than we know if we submit to Him. Reverend James and Jolly Tukahigwa Bwengye Reverend James and Jolly Tukahigwa Bwengye are the founders and pastors of Disciples of Christ Ministry in an area known as Namuungona on the outskirts of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. They have 7 children and 1 grand child. KIDCARE’s official partnership with Reverend Bwengye dates from September 2002. Reverend Bwengye oversees the work of KIDCARE in the Lubya Community, Buwenge, Idoome and surrounding villages. James Bwengye got saved in 1986 and joined Full Gospel Church where he was appointed a church treasurer in 1989. In 1992 the Lord led him to begin a ministry. He is a Pastor and an evangelist by calling. His ministry was established in 1992 at Namuungona in Kampala-Uganda. His vision is to produce true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ to come to such unity in faith and knowledge of God’s son, that they may become mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. (Eph. 4:13). Their mission is to know Jesus Christ and him crucified and to make him known to others through preaching the Gospel. By virtue of this vision and mission their objectives are:To propagate the Kingdom of God and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism, campaign, literature and prayer meetings. To promote the education of clergymen, pastors, lay-leaders and workers of the church in the teaching of the church and in general education. To establish Theological Institutions for training of such ministers. To minister to the needy through provision of spiritual and material needs e.g. orphans, widows, the poor, those in areas of war, disaster and the sick i.e. HIV/AIDS victims. To build, establish and maintain churches, hospitals, schools, social centres and places of worship.
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Apart from their own financial challenges, many of them face various other hurdles. These could be in the form of a lack of skills (educational, management and accountability), lack of experience and often, relational issues with those around them. I would like to focus this piece on the challenge of relationships issues which can often undermine or derail the work of ministry. In particular I would like to comment on the relationship between those who have the vision for a particular task (the visionary) and those who come alongside to assist them in whatever capacity. These could be local partners or partners from abroad with the know-how, with funding or other human resources. I have encountered situations where misunderstandings arise over a miscommunication, pre-judgements, presumptions, prejudice,
Christians to work for God, whoever they are, their standards must be that of Christ. God calls Christians of different backgrounds and cultures to work together for His Kingdom; there is always first a call to work at Christian relationships whatever the context. God is primarily looking at whether we relate to each other with love and He judges us on this much more than whether we have achieve our human goals. If relationships are filled with suspicions, a lack of trust and there is no Christian love, then there is a failure in God’s terms to meet the mark. God measures success by obedience to His word only. One writer puts it this way:‘Unity is not cheap and it is not something we can ordain, enforce or establish. The important word here is ‘dwell’. Dwelling is… an awareness of imperfections, struggles; yet we do not give up, we do not run and
There are many hurdles to each of the points above in our personal lives apart from the fact that those who work together may be separated by various physical geographical and cultural boundaries. However, if God is able to facilitate His work by connecting peoples of different backgrounds, races and colour to come together to show His love to others, He can also enable us do this work in the way He wants us to. In all things we must depend on the Spirit of God which is able to do far more than we know if we submit to Him “If then there is any comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in harmony and of one mind” – Philippians 2:1 &2 My prayer is for God’s grace, strength, wisdom and peace to be with all who have put their hands together as visionaries and partners in this work. God richly bless you all. Susie Djan Executive Director, Kidcare International.
kidcare JULY 2007 15
REPORT MISSION TO THE PHILIPPINES
B
June 2006 On the third trip I really felt like an honorary Ugandan. I was going back to see so many friendly faces. I was going back to see friends, I was going back home. There had been so many new changes and developments, extensions of buildings KIDCARE had supported financially, some new buildings, new faces of children who had joined the orphanage.
efore my first trip to Uganda, I had a pretty sheltered idea of what their lives were like and what I’d expect. The first trip was a youth mission trip which KIDCARE organised in July 2004 for young adults, to visit Uganda and assist in their work there. Around 18 young men and ladies including myself experienced life in Uganda, Africa for the very first time. That first trip was a real eye opener; we met so many children with heartbreaking stories of their backgrounds. We played with them, prayed with them, spoke to them and helped to decorate the orphanage they were living in; we had a real fun time with them. On returning back from that trip I had an overwhelming desire to want to change their lives and circumstances. After returning from Uganda I began to appreciate the things I took for granted, like being able to receive an education, being able to sit in class and receive my teacher’s attention.
Charlene and the children at Namuungona
Reflections
This was the first time that we had been to Gulu, in Northern Uganda. This area is known for the activities of terrorists, the murder of countless men, women and children and civil war. Although every mission trip poses dangers it was on this trip that I felt fear and really had to put all my trust in God, to protect us and keep us safe. We travelled safely to Lira and then Gulu. The journey seemed to take forever. At the Gulu central hospital we gave a donation of medicines. We met with doctors who had treated the victims of the Lords Resistance army, the rebel organisation fighting the government. One doctor was a man that seldom was paid but still worked hard to help the injured. He had treated those who had their ears, mouths noses and limbs viciously cut off often with implements such as a razor blade, knives or machetes.
My Three Mission Trips To Uganda
In Uganda not every child receives an education and not every child is able to receive the teacher’s attention as there are sometimes up to one hundred children in a class. The KIDCARE fundraising team (of which I am part) worked tirelessly with their fundraising, working on summer fetes and Christmas concerts. I did this because I really believed that all the hard work and monies raised will help to make the lives of children better. Uganda July 2005 The second trip was not like the first, and where I had previously thought that my eyes had been opened it was opened much more on this trip. This was another mission trip to Uganda which took place in July of 2005. We were not such a big group as the previous year. This time we were 5 in all. The second trip was really hard work. There were early starts and late finishes, more heartbreaking stories, more physical and emotional work. But the best thing was more of God changing me. This time round, I was involved in a car accident! This accident is something that I will never forget; it’s something which I can still remember in every detail. This was an accident involving a motorbike and a minibus. Passengers were strewn on the road, with the injured covered in blood. We had to minister first aid to those passengers with the little that was on us to save their lives. We ourselves were not hurt, but we did feel very vulnerable when a crowd of strangers (and some hostile people) started milling around us. Eventually another car was hailed which picked up the injured and took them to hospital – no ambulance was called for
16 kidcare JULY 2007
BY Charlene Mathison – nor indeed would have come. It truly was a miracle how the injured survived, a miracle which happened right before our eyes. We were quite shaken and had much of the blood around us stain our clothing. Shortly after this, I felt ill with what I now believe must have been food poisoning! Well, the long and short of that was that I was out of action for around 3-4 days, but felt better to continue with the mission afterwards. I was now very careful about what I ate.
In Uganda not every child receives an education and not every child is able to receive the teacher’s attention as there are sometimes up to one hundred children in a class. It was also on this trip that I received a greater understanding and appreciation for Pastor James Bwengye, KIDCARE co-ordinator in Uganda. He works so hard for those children and loves each of them like his own. It was on this trip that I was able to exercise my cheeky but playful nature and after a few jokes and prods by me on this good but serious Pastor, I actually got him to start smiling more. We then became good friends. The accident combined with illness made me physically and emotionally drained but by the grace of God the mission continued and we were able to say that it was a successful trip.
We visited two refugee camps both in Lira and Gulu where people were living in mud huts which weren’t even as tall as me. Inside they had one or two items and that was all they owned but they were so very hopeful. We met with some of the residents in a mud hut which they had built as a church and school and they danced and they worshipped and praised God like I’ve never seen before and that was a real inspiration to me. I said before that on a first look they had nothing, but being in their presence you saw that they had everything, they had God, they believed in Him, they trusted in Him and they had each other in their community. They were… No…they are RICH. From their little food supplies they managed to put on a feast for us. These people really exemplified the saying “giving you the shirt off my back” as that’s what they did. I was really touched by what they did and it taught me that I can always give, no matter how small. I have been blessed by the trips to Uganda; I have seen so much and met so many wonderful people. I have had my hope restored and my faith and trust in God strengthened. As I said before I truly believed that I could change their circumstances but throughout my trips I have learnt that it’s not for me to do everything. God will do things in His time and many of these people they are already rich in ways we cannot measure and they are truly blessed.
In Mid September 2006, I went to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines where we are currently working. I arrived in Dipolog city, the regional capital of Zamboanga Province on a hot and sunny Saturday afternoon where I was met by our dear friend and ministry partner Pastor Bonifacio Sembran. Boni as he is affectionately called has lived and worked on this island for many years, pioneering many works of ministry and training leaders and workers for Christian ministry in this part of the Philippines. Many of the pastors and leaders he has trained or mentored have ended up on different parts of the island as pastors and community leaders reaching people in very remote needy areas. KIDCARE started our partnership with this work in 2003 and since then, we have had the privilege of working with him in various aspects of the work as well as initiating others that were needed. After a weekend of preaching in his home church, and discussing our forthcoming Leadership Development and Training program, I witnessed the KIDCARE sponsored feeding project, which provides food every Sunday afternoon for poor children and families in the community. When the project started, lunch was provided for the poor who had come to the service on Sunday. It was soon noticed that more children and some adults turned up during and after the service to be fed. After a while they requested that they be allowed to bring plastic bags to take the food (rice, stew or soup with meat and vegetables) away instead of staying to eat it on the church premises. This we found out was so they could share the food with the rest of their family, and in some cases keep some over for supper. This has become a demonstration of the love of God to them and their families as well as an outreach in itself, because many children and their families have become a part of the church. What started as feeding hungry children and poor people after the service has also become an evangelistic ministry opportunity. On Monday following my arrival, I began four days of training and equipping over 100 pastors and leaders who had arrived from all over the island. Many of those who attended had been trained and released into Christian ministry by Boni and were now leading churches in cities and rural areas across the island. During this time the leaders also had opportunity to ask relevant questions and seek advice on some of the challenging issues confronting them in their ministries. I also trained young adults in the Bible college as part of the youth development training programme. After the four days I felt convicted by the Lord, that quite a few of them were desperately in need of sponsorship to help them carry on in the work of ministry to which they had been called. This was very much in line with a discussion I had with the executive management of KIDCARE before I flew over to the Philippines. The directive had been that KIDCARE needed to look at supporting poor pastors and their families who were on
the frontline of ministry in some of the towns, villages and remote regions. Some of them, particularly those in the remote areas have congregations who are very poor and are unable to support the pastor financially. This often puts the pastors in a predicament because as much as they want to give their time to pastoral ministry and nurturing of the people so as to strengthen them in their walk with God and in His Word, they have to put a lot of their effort into looking for money to put food on the table and take care of their families. In the end we came up with the idea of a joint partnership of True Vine Missions and KIDCARE International sponsoring pastors and their families using the machinery of KIDCARE for a minimum amount of £10 per pastor per month. With the help of Boni we identified 10 pastors who needed immediate help and set the project in motion on my return to the UK. Since the beginning of January we have supported these pastors and their families and hope that as time goes on we will be able to add 10 more pastors making it 20 in all for a total sponsorship of £300 pounds a month.
The children at the Gatas Orphanage
All in all, the time of ministry and fellowship with the pastors, leaders and students was fruitful and helpful both to them and to me also because it helped to establish strong relationships with them. On the Sunday after the leader’s training program I went to a remote mountain village to preach in one of the churches that had been planted by one of the pastors under Boni’s spiritual and ministry oversight. This was quite an experience, because it was the first time they’d ever had a foreigner come to preach in this mountain village church, and they were delighted. The pastor who took me there was born in that village but had moved away many years ago. However his father who still lived there was the first person to become a Christian in that village. After the service he told me how he had been praying for almost 20 years that God would send a foreign missionary to the village to preach and fellowship with them so the people would get a wider perspective of the Kingdom of God and see that other believers from other parts of the world cared about them. As far as he was concerned I had come as an answer to his prayer and that was a great encouragement to him. I had the privilege of sharing a meal they had prepared specially to welcome me and to
express their love, before we returned to Dipolog city where I was based. The remainder of my time in the Philippines was devoted to seeing to the work of KIDCARE with children in an orphanage 3 hours drive away from Dipolog known as the Gatas Children’s Home which is run by Boni’s son Joshua and his wife Amet. This is another of the projects initiated by Boni and the team, which we have been supporting for the last 4 years. When I arrived in the Philippines I discovered that Amet had broken her thighbone and had had major surgery. She had just come to Dipolog city to recuperate after spending a month in hospital. She had come to live in the centre with her husband so that she could be looked after whilst she recovered. She had also brought some of the younger children in the home to stay at the centre so that Boni, his wife Odette and the team there could help look after them. They had a tutor who came in the afternoons to give them lessons for a couple of hours so that they did not miss out on their education. They were a happy bunch of children who enjoyed coming to the door of the hut in which I stayed early in the morning to either sing or just say hello in the hope of getting some sweets or chocolate or to try and chat to me in their native language. I also had the opportunity to spend quality time with Joshua and Amet the house parents, encouraging both of them and she in particular after what she had been through medically. The day before I left, we travelled the 3 hours to the Gatas Children’s Home, (the orphanage at Gatas). On the way our vehicle broke down and we had to call for help, which added another 2 hours to our journey. We arrived at the home, to the delight of the children, who had taken the day off school to spend time with Joshua and I. I had a wonderful time with them, finding out where they had reached in their education and personal development since our last visit a year earlier. They also sang to me and showed me around the house so I could see their rooms and living conditions. It was a wonderful day at the end of which we had to drive the 3 hours back to Dipolog. My last day was spent in more meetings with Boni, Odette and with their son Joshua and his wife Amet, filling forms and updating the children’s records. After lunch I headed for Dipolog city airport to begin my 25-hour journey back to London via Manila and Singapore. If you are interested in the work of Boni in the Philippines, please contact KIDCARE International. From the foregoing report, there are several ways in which you can assist the work there. Sponsorship of children living in the orphanage, financial support of poor families, donations towards income generating projects, funding towards the mentoring and leadership training of pastors and leaders or assisting in the feeding projects. Please help in any way you can. REPORT BY RAY MICHAEL DJAN
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REPORT SOUTH AFRICA
Praying for
KIDCARE
KIDCARE’S WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA’ S TOWNSHIPS
THE HOUSE OF BREAD CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
(A FEEDING PROJECT WITH A DIFFERENCE)
‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints’ – Ephesians 6:18 We believe that prayer is the lifeline for any Christian ministry, because prayer enhances our dependency on God. It gives us God’s wisdom and perspective on things; strengthens us and brings God’s divine intervention on the scene in the way He wills. We realise that the real objectives of KIDCARE can only move on by the power of prayer. Please join us as we pray for our children, the carers, the projects and KIDCARE’s work generally. Please contact us via any of the methods below if you wish to receive our regular prayer bulletin. KIDCARE International, 67 Melfort Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7RT Telephone: 07956 362 306 Text Message: 07956 362 306 Email: prayer@kidcare-international.org Thank you and God bless you for the time you give to pray for the families, children and the work of KIDCARE. Victoria Osei Bonsu Editor (Prayer Bulletin)
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Extension 20 township in Jouberton
In 2005, KIDCARE adopted this feeding project in the township of Jouberton in the squatter camp (informal settlement) near Klerksdorp in South Africa. Rebecca and her husband, Timothy Faustino are the visionaries behind this work, coordinating the feeding programme for over 100 poor children in the Jouberton township of Klerksdorp, four days a week on the compound of her home in Jouberton Township. Rebecca started to work with children in 1986 and has taken several courses in children’s ministry. In 1993, she received a commenda-
tion from the co-ordinator of People Reaching People projects of the World Mission Centre. She received a Teachers certificate from the Child and Youth Evangelism Transvaal leadership Institute. In 1994, she successfully completed a course in childcare and in 1995 attended a training programme for community workers to identify and counsel abused and traumatized children. KIDCARE built a temporary tent structure outside Rebecca’s home to keep the children who were coming there on a daily basis out of the rain and extreme hot sunshine. In 2007 an aluminium shelter designed to provide better covering for the project was built by Rhema Church, Klerksdorp. KIDCRE provides support through monthly donations towards the feeding, chairs, plates, and cups for the project. Our partners, Rhema Church also assist by giving various food packages periodically. The children participate in a children’s bible club 3 days a week. Once a week they are supported by Bana ba Jesu (Kidcare’s partners in the child development ministry in South Africa). Some assistance is also given to the children in their school work. Please consider supporting this programme as this will enable us to feed and care for more children. Rebecca and Timothy Faustino. Jouberton. Klerksdorp, South Africa
Rebecca, right, feeds the children
LESANG BANA – KIDCARE NURSERY In October 2006, Ray, Asharina (our youngest daughter) and I went to audit KIDCARE’s work in South Africa. We were very happy to see the progress of the Lesang Bana nursery school in the poor squatter township of Jouberton extension 20. Thirty children were overjoyed to see us as we brought clothes, toys and gave them a treat in the way of a party. Lesang Bana Kidcare (which means let the children come) received its registration as a non-profit organisation on the 13th of November 2006. This means that the project is now officially recognised by the Department of Social development. This project’s Funds were raised in Scotland in July to October 2006 with the help of our KIDCARE Advisory Members Malcolm and Rosemary Crow who raised funds
LETTER FROM THE PROJECT COORDINATORS Dear KIDCARE benefactors and sponsors, We greet you all in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The progress of the work has been great. We have been blessed with a shelter, which has extended to thrice the size of the original. We have had the deputy Mayor of our city come and congratulate the good work that is taking place. My pastors at our church, members and other denominations have started to recognise us. They are the ones that helped us to extend our shelter. We believe that that this has come as a result of your visit to us in October 2006. There are about twenty children who are asking to go to my church on Sundays and they write and draw letters to me, showing how grateful they are and expressing how much they love and understand the love of God in their lives. I have a desire to see these children educated and enlightened more. I am praying for transport to do an effective work and to be able to go to church with those who want to go to church with me. I am asking for about four big tables that can be folded after eating. I would also like to organise an amusement park educational trip. We thank God for the marvellous work he has done with extending our territory. We thank God that the good work that the Lord has started is growing and He is helping to maintain it. We thank KIDCARE International for financial maintenance for every month to enable us feed and care for over 100 children 3 days every week. God richly bless you all. Yours in Christ, Rebecca and Timothy.
Timothy and Rebecca Faustino, Co-ordinators of House of Bread
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through the generous donations of various benefactors in Scotland to build the fence around the school. Work came to a halt due to insufficient funds. In March this year, the wonderful efforts of Smitham Primary School in Coulsdon, Surrey raised funds to towards the finishing of the building of this muchneeded fence for the school.
care, social development and aged and disabled care. KIDCARE’s partnership with this organisation has been ongoing for the last 6 years through some of its projects with Marietjie Myburg. SAVF has established children’s homes, half way homes and other institutions to support poor children and the vulnerable in the community. KIDCARE and Marietjie have partnered to support the ‘street boys’ in the Atamalang boys half way home. KIDCARE started in 2000 by opening up a Remedial school project. Currently, support for the boys in the Atamalang half way home for street boys is also doing extremely well. Most of the boys are now attending a school a little way from the shelter.
Lesang Bana Kidcare Nursery School
KIDCARE’s current plans are to build two classrooms for this school. All the children currently use one small room where they eat, play and have their afternoon sleep. Building two classrooms can cost up to £3,000 and will enable us to build this into a beautiful and useful community project for the benefit of poor families in the poor township. We earnestly pray and ask for your financial support towards this project.
Atamelang Home For Street Boys
ATAMELANG ‘STREET BOYS’ HOME - THE CHALLENGES OF LOOKING AFTER ‘STREET BOYS’ Children who are homeless and destitute roam the streets of Klerksdorp. They end up sniffing glue, engaging in other forms of drug abuse, in stealing and in other crimes. They are usually in and out of local police cells, being released only to be let out back onto the streets. Often these boys have arrived from lives of poverty and neglect and many often have received little or no education. These boys are supported by Marietjie Myburgh of the SAVF’s organisation. SAVF (South African Women’s Federation) believes in the dignity and potential of every human being. They are a South African Christian NGO whose activities are divided into three fields namely, child and youth
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When KIDCARE visited the project in October 2006, the boys warmly received the team. A party was organised by the KIDCARE team and the boys were all blessed with new shoes. There was also time for chatting and praying with the boys. The following are other reports from the centre.
- A VISIT TO ATAMELANG HOME FOR BOYS, SOUTH AFRICA The Atamelang Home in Klerksdorp, South Africa is home to a number of boys who were taken from living on the street. Kidcare has supported this project since 1999. Our main support comes in supporting the education of these boys. This short report gives an account of discussions the Kidcare team had with the house keeper and co-ordinator on a recent visit to the Atamelang home in March 2007. We met with Lucia, the lady who looked after the boys. Plans were being made to put tiles on the floors, windows in the dormitory, and to build a new dormitory for the boys. We sat down and had lengthy discussions with Lucia concerning some of the issues she faced in the care of the boys. She was very happy to “offload” some of her challenges in caring for the boys. We talked for about an hour. One thing that came up a lot was the indiscipline with some of the boys. She said that some of the boys who lived on the streets for a while had picked up bad habits like shoplifting. Even though they had been brought to the shelter and had received the loving warmth and care that was offered, a few often demonstrated these bad habits when they succumbed to temptation. The pressure facing young boys everywhere in the world also affected these boys – peer pressure, the desire for fanciful, designer items, Mobile phones, other tools of modern technology which was clearly beyond their pockets, but which were enticing when they walked through the streets. Often other boys
who lived on the streets would encourage them to shop lift. As every parent is aware, bringing up children under the best of circumstances is one thing and instilling in them acceptable moral values is another. Each child has his own will. It was the view of the KIDCARE team, that those in the authority of the Atamelang home had the patience, time and devotion to the boys to assist them inspite of the challenges mentioned above to become stable, hardworking, God fearing boys.
fed, clothed and given an opportunity to go to school. The majority responded positively. Marietjie showed us the new school the boys attended. The boys were happy and thriving there. On the issue of what happened to boys who have to leave the shelter because of their age, Marietjie said they had battled with this issue for some time now. On a previous KIDCARE visit in October 2006, we had advised her to place these boys in apprenticeships. A few boys were therefore introduced to the building trade.
Lucia expressed her conflicting emotions when she had to do all in her power to protect, discipline and care for boys whom she had grown to love and all who had equally grown to trust her. She said in her capacity as a matron to the boys, she was mother, father, prosecutor, defender, judge, detective, teacher, all things. There were joys as well. Seeing some boys doing well in school, come back with certificates of achievements, and proudly presenting them to her. Sharing with the boys, laughing with them, watching them dance and seeing them grow into young adults. Chief among her concerns was the issue of what happened to the boys who outgrew the shelter – i.e. aged 18 years and above. A few of whom Kidcare started with 8 years ago. They were now 21. This posed a big problem. These boys did not wish to leave the shelter which had now become home to them. Marietjie, the SAVF co-ordinator and KIDCARE partner shared the same concerns as Lucia and was very pleased we could talk together on these issues, advice and pray together. Marietjie agreed that the nature of the project was to remove boys off the street and away from crime and drugs. She recognised the stresses and challenges which came with the job and the need for much patience and open communication lines. She stated that many boys will respond to the change of environment and to the Christian ethos positively, but some would find difficulty in adapting to a more structured living as compared to living on the streets and discipline.
came to the shelter voluntarily and one was picked up by the police at in January and handed over to us. 9 children are currently enrolled in Letsatsi Primary School and the 3 children that just arrived at the shelter will be enrolled soon. Generally, the health of the children is good although we had some instances of one child needing a tooth extracted; another injured his right hand, and was taken to the clinic; one child fell from the bed, losing three front teeth which were wired back in at the Hospital and another boy had body sores which were fully treated by medication provided by the clinic. Some of the children have friends outside of the home who visit them. At school the principal reported that the children are doing well, however some have a problem with dozing off while classes are in session.
Lucia, the house keeper at Atamelang
Marietjie pointed out that in answer to our prayers, another home had been made available for boys 18years plus. These boys would stay there as a half way home whilst they continued their apprenticeships. In conclusion, Kidcare would like to thank all benefactors who have supported this project in one way or another. Our appeal would be for more support by way of prayer, funding or other means to assist these young boys. Your support is much needed, more so at a time, when there is growing crime, murder and violence committed by and against young black boys and men in South African townships and cities today.
In The Boys’ Room
This is generally true of human beings around the world. The objectives of the home, however, she emphasised was being achieved. Boys who would otherwise wax stronger in crime and drugs were taken out from that negative environment and brought into a safe, loving, Christian home,
Efforts to recruit or encourage new children from the streets to come to the shelter are currently underway, however only 2 children
Below are various reports of her work.
TERCIA’S STORY
Tercia Parson
Mr. P.P Sihlangu
BANA BA JESU (CHILDREN FOR JESUS)
In an interview with Tercia in October 2006, She had the following observations relating to ministry in South Africa: Cultural adjustments: There is a continued need for people to make the necessary adjustments to bridge the colour gap that still exists in the country, a process that many people are still finding it difficult to undergo. Contributing to Society: The most precious thing a person can give is not their money but their time. Time to listen, time to pray and ask God what can I do? Then use the time to go and do something about the situation. South Africa must make the effort to ingrain this culture in our peoples.
God Bless.
12 children registered for the shelter in the beginning of this year. Of the 12 children registered, two of the children are above the age allowed in the shelter, one of the children will be turning 18 this year and five of the children have no identification documents. I am in the process of assisting them to obtain such documentation – late registration and I.D. documents.
Tercia also teaches in Sunday schools, visits other educational intuitions such as youth detention centres, Kidcare supported children’s homes and nursery schools.
Thank you to all who have supported this work so far and I ask that you please continue to support the good work in bringing boys who live on the street off the street into a home and to school.
Please contact us for more information, if you would want to support them in anyway.
- A SOCIAL WORKER’S REPORT
Tercia teaches the children on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. She also conducts an 8-week course, training teachers in childcare, detecting, protecting and assisting children who have been abused, child development and creative use of their available tools and materials to teach and care for the children.
The much older children from the home and children who are mentally ill have been relocated elsewhere. One child was assisted to apply for a late registration of birth and Identification document to assist him in securing employment.
Our prayers for Atamelang are that God will continue to uphold and bless the committee, the management of SAVF, the social workers who have a big job on their hands, and Lucia all of whom work tirelessly for the cause of street boys.
LIFE AT THE ATAMELANG HOME FOR STREET CHILDREN
Township, namely in: Extension 11 with a ministry partner known as Khetiwa Extension 20 with Rebecca (the house of bread ministry) and Extension 7
Bana ba Jesu
Bana ba Jesu – Tswana / Sotho Children for Jesus – English Kinders vir Jesus – Afrikaans Tercia Parson co-ordinates a bible school club known as Bana ba Jesu (Children for Jesus). Tercia has become one of the newest mission partners with KIDCARE International, sharing our vision to support children and families. This work currently operates in two feeding schemes at Alabama Township in the northwest province of South Africa. There are currently three programmes in the Jouberton
Love is the answer in South Africa: But some feel that love is costly because it is unselfish. It’s giving, it’s forgiving, and it’s thinking about what’s the best for others rather than thinking about me. It’s about sacrificing yourself for others. That is something that people find difficult to do, because they have not received it from their fathers. They equate love with something that it’s not. It is for us to speak and present the love of Christ in little ways. And to show people where the lack and the need is. Many were brought up with lies. Their parents may go to church but there is still no truth. A bible verse says, “They will know you are my children because they see my love through you”. That is the main thing required to bring real change in South Africa.
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I was five years old when I gave my life to God, and I knew that day that I was going to work for him. That’s all. I never had any other ambition than to be a Christian who served and loved God. I had that from five years old. Jesus had soul, compassion and he reached out. These are the three things that are needed in a person’s life. Through the experiences I have had in my life I have come to understand traumatised children and have learnt how to share Jesus with them. I can see their hurt, cry with them and talk with them. They are the next generation of teenagers who will do the same as what was done to them. I have learnt a lot about the love of God in this work and understand that Jesus didn’t only come for the ones who look nice every Sunday, but the ones who feel helpless. I believe I have being called as a Christian to be part of making a difference to the lives of many children who have suffered in silence. PROJECT REPORTS Visits to Bergsig, Kwazulu-Natal: 29th October – 4th November 2006 Bergsig is a special institution, which is for children of primary school age with special educational needs. The children’s meetings were a blessing and we had the privilege to lead 10 children to the Lord. The theme, which was on the ‘Life of Daniel’, was a real encouragement to the children. God blessed us with second hand Bibles for every child in the school and when we where at Bergsig we received new Bibles to give as a goodbye gift for the thirty seven children who graduated from the school to go on to High school in different parts of South Africa in their 8th grade. 18th – 24th March 2007 What a blessing! It was so wonderful to see the work of the Lord in these broken lives. The theme was on the life of Joseph, and the Mission story was about the Life of Amy Carmichael. And God worked!! I still haven’t got the words to fully describe the presence of the Lord and the conviction of the Holy Spirit that was at work in these little ones. We truly serve an awesome God. Bana Ba Jesu (Children for Jesus) Concert – 9thDecember 2006 This was a wonderful opportunity to share the Good News of the Gift of God to man – Jesus Christ – with the children. We did this by singing the songs that we had practiced with the children during our club days and at the feeding project with Rebecca of the House of Bread Ministry. We encouraged the children to bring their family and friends and also undertook public invitations as we took the Toyota and drove around in the nearby streets and invited the other children to come and join us. The Lord really surprised us with more than 250 children attending the concert and sharing in the treats and food prepared for them.
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The Lord also supplied resources in the form of donations so that we could provide all the children with sweets, cake, chips and cool drinks. We also painted tins with the Bible verses that we learned through the year and filled them with treats for the faithful ones who attended through the year. And praise God there was more than enough for every one.
CARE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN
After a meeting in March this year to discuss the way forward in partnership, it was agreed that Esme Gerber will open a KIDCARE account for the Emmanuel project and receive donations to be passed onto Sophia. Sophia will in turn send all reports and accountability via Esme.
Children for Jesus – Program of 2007 We decided last year to walk through the Bible with the children and to introduce them to God our Father, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour and the Holy Spirit who meets people and change their lives. The program ended for December holidays with the Life of Jacob, and we resumed on the 19th of January 2007 with the Life of Joseph. Teachers Training – February 2007 The Full Gospel Church offered their facility for the Ministry and we held the training course in their building. Through the Training Course, God blessed us with an opening in Alabama also! We made contact with existing feeding projects who invited us to come and start to minister the Word of God to the children. The Lord willing, the next course will be held every Saturday in May 2007. Please pray with us because then we can also open a new Bana Ba Jesu / Children for Jesus in extension seven and in Alabama. Extension 11 - Khetiwe’s Place The Lord blessed us with this opening and we were able to start the Bana Ba Jesu (Children for Jesus) Club there with a feeding program in March. It’s held on a Wednesday. The outreach started with fifty chairs, plates and cups, which are now not enough! The roof is standing and the Word of God is the main meal with the Bible program being on the Life of Moses. Lessons learnt I have seen the need to learn more and understand more about the culture differences, and how to explain Christian discipline and Christ-like servant hood. I have had discussions with all team workers in this field on the need to have definite guidelines and a clear understanding about personal lifestyles to guard against misunderstanding among the helpers. We’ve also had discussions on the need to be clear about our purpose and aim in working with the children. A spiritual standard must always be the focus of all and everyone must be encouraged to commit to His leadership. Yes, culture differences and church politics play a big role in misunderstanding. There’s a lot of knee work (prayer) that must be done because only our Lord can change our hearts, understanding and ideas about things. But I’m not discouraged. He promises that despite the difficulties and problems, there will be fruit. He is daily giving wisdom and guidance and is always at work purifying my own life. Tercia
they cater for disabled older people and abandoned children. The project receives support from the SAVF (South African Women’s Federation) with whom KIDCARE works closely through Marietjie Myburgh (see Atamalang report).
This is a very needy project as Sophia has very little resources to assist these children. The parents or guardians of these children are very poor. The project is currently meeting in a garage. This project needs sponsorship to assist in the monthly feeding, training and resources for the centre. Most importantly they need to move out of the garage into better accommodation and facilities. Please contact us today in order to assist KIDCARE to support Sophia in any way that you can.
GOODBYE AND WELCOME
Susie, Marietjie and Esme
in general and in particular Pastor Morgan Mahlaulof, one of the assistant ministers in the church.
In October 2006, KIDCARE International partnered with a new project in the township of Hartbeesfontein which caters for disabled children. Around 15 children from poor families in the squatter township who have disabilities from Down syndrome, children who are deaf or blind or dumb or a mixture of the above, autistic children and children with other mental and physical challenges are brought into this little garage and are cared for everyday by 2 ladies. The alternative for these children in these poor areas is very bleak. This is the story.
The church already participates in some community outreach programmes for the poor known as the Open Arms ministry and Pastor Paul was very happy to partner with KIDCARE to assist those in his community who are needy. Among the many duties which partnership will involve will be that the church will give administrative support towards KIDCARE’s work in receiving our regular remittances to the various projects. Rhema will receive all reports, receipts for expenditure, school reports, photographs, and assist with the costing and oversight of the expenditures of KIDCARE projects. Kidcare is extremely grateful for the partnership of this church in our work in Klerksdorp in South Africa.
CARE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN Emmanuel Disability project Sophia Tay established this project in 1999 at Tigane Township, which is around 33 kilometres from Klerksdorp. The purpose of this initiative was to keep children with disabilities within a safe and caring environment. Sophia herself is also a person with disability through polio. Her parents assisted her to walk. She became burdened to assist poor, disabled children and young adults when she saw the problems that poor, mentally and physically disabled people have in their community. This ranges from abuse, eating poorly from the dustbin and even rape as they wander on the streets. She started this project in January 1999 by talking with the church elders of the Dutch Reformed church at Hartbeesfontein, who gave her the use of an old garage. She then taught herself sign language and took classes in the management of disabled people. She now cares for poor, physically disabled children for about a year or until they can go to school. Those who are not able to go to school stay with her or join the Disabled centre at Evanna (a SAVF project in Evanna). At present, thirteen children with disabilities including, autism, deafness and downs syndrome, attend the centre on a daily basis. They are equipped with basic life skills and trained to do some handwork such as, making cards for specific days of celebration, knitting and making of crafts. KIDCARE International will assist the Emmanuel Disability project with the assistance and oversight of Esme Gerber, the director of SAVF Evanna Tehuis. Evanna Tehuis is an old people’s home in Hartbeesfontein. Apart from looking after old people in this home,
Sophia Tay
Paul and Stephanie Heine with Ray Djan
This year KIDCARE says farewell to our Mission Partners and coordinators in South Africa, Peter and Jean Pauls who have been working tirelessly to co-ordinate the work of KIDCARE in South Africa for the last 6 years. Peter and his wife Jean worked alongside the different project coordinators in South Africa, providing comprehensive reports and providing all financial accountability to the UK offices. KIDCARE says a big thank you to them for all their labour of love. We pray that God’s continued blessings, protection and guidance will be theirs always. We are pleased to say that the new coordinators for the work will be Pastor Paul and Stephanie Heines of Rhema church in Klerksdorp, South Africa. They will be supported by the leadership of the church
Peter Paul
Pastor Morgan Mahlaulof
PUBLICATIONS SPONSORSHIP This publication and our quarterly newsletters are freely distributed so that we can adequately inform all KIDCARE supporters of our activities. However, as you may be aware, printing costs can be substantial and could take up valuable money that could be used more directly for the benefit of the children. Our desire is to maximise the use of funds for the children’s benefit and minimise avoidable administration costs. As a result, we would ask that you consider making a voluntary contribution towards the cost of the publications. Any sum you donate towards this will be appreciated. Kindly write cheques to KIDCARE International (write ‘newsletter’ at the back of your cheque). Thank you and God bless you for your generous financial support.
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REPORT UKRAINE
INDIA REPORT FROM HARVEST MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL by Robert Mophet
KIDCARE partners with the ministry through prayer support and publicising Harvest International Ministries in India and the U.K to generate funding to support its work. KIDCARE Sponsors also provide funding which supports some of the children in the Rose of Sharon Children Home, an outreach project of the HMI. The U.K representative of HMI is Mr. Carl Palk.
annual ‘Children’s Day’, emphasising the unity we feel together as one big family, and we think this will be more meaningful for our children. We held this celebration on 5 October 2006 and it was a blessed time for all. This year we have 63 children and, at the moment, 13 of them still need sponsors. If any of your friends would like to sponsor a child, please consider sponsorship. Please also continue to pray for our children, especially for their final term exams in March.
Greetings in the name of the Lord. This year marks our 11th year of ministry in the harvest fields of India and for this we Praise God!
HARVEST MISSION ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL We now have 325 pupils studying in the school, which has secured government recognition as a Lower Primary School. We are currently pursuing official recognition firstly as an Upper Primary School and thereafter as a High School. Such recognition is essential if the school is to grow and offer education to older children. Please pray that God will grant us a miracle in achieving this objective. ROSE OF SHARON CHILDREN’S HOME As you probably know, especially if you already sponsor one of the Rose of Sharon children, we used to celebrate all the children’s birthdays together in one party once a year. However, from the year 2006 onwards, we decided instead to hold an
HARVEST MISSION BIBLE COLLEGE The Harvest Mission Bible College has just completed its ninth academic year and 10 students graduated after successfully completing a three-year Batchelor of Theology course. Please pray for these graduates as they go out into the rural areas of North India to bring the good news of God’s kingdom to the lost.
KIDCARE IN UKRAINE, EASTERN EUROPE In December 2002, Kidcare international representatives had the opportunity to visit the former Soviet Union’s republic of Ukraine. The desire was to connect with people in the Eastern Europe to assist with their work for orphans, families and children within their communities. At that time, in 2002 KIDCARE connected with 2 orphanages in Rovnov in Western Ukraine. However, the connections made at that time were not strong enough and that contact with Ukraine ended.
Please also pray for God’s continued provision and protection upon the Bible College so that each student can be equipped for work in His kingdom.
Dear Friends,
It has been a very busy year for us as God has blessed Harvest Ministries to reach out to many and we are so thankful to you for your prayers and financial support.
girls are very happy and are so thankful to everyone who prayed and helped to build a dedicated home for them.
David Annoh shared his desire to partner with KIDCARE International. His church’s strength lay in its music and outreach ministry and Ray and Susie encouraged him to take his music into schools, orphanages, and other areas in the community in their outreach programmes. The initial planning stage of opening a children’s home in Dnipropetrovs’k was discussed with the KIDCARE team, Pastor David and Galena, his wife.
SPONSORSHIP APPEAL
Rose of Sharon Children’s Home
THE NEW BUILDING FOR GIRLS’ AND LADIES We have completed construction work on the ground floor, which provides accommodation and facilities for the Rose of Sharon girls. In line with the expanded vision for the use of this building that God gave us in 2006, we commenced work on the first floor which will be used to accommodate elderly ladies or those who are widowed or have been thrown out of their homes after becoming Christians. In the future, we also intend to admit ladies to study the word of God at the Bible College and they will be accommodated in this building. We are so thankful to everyone who has prayed for and helped us with this building project and we request your continuous prayers to complete the work for the ladies’ home and prayer tower. Our Rose of Sharon
We thank you for your continued prayers and trust that you will prayerfully consider financial sponsorship to enable us serve the people in the villages of India who are often desperately poor, living from hand to mouth. £15 a month – To sponsor a child and enhance their life chances through education £40 a month – To support a poor family £1.40 per Bible – For distribution to new believers £40 a month – To sponsor a pastor or evangelist and help support and sustain the evangelistic work in village areas Contributions of any amount towards the cause of the work in this country will be greatly appreciated. May your offering be a seed in God’s work and bring immeasurable prosperity on you. Robert Mophet is the Founding and Presiding Pastor of Harvest Ministries International
CARING FOR THE CARERS
The children in the Ukraine
However much prayer for the nation was made over the next 5 years and it was thought that if it was God’s will, KIDCARE would once again connect with Christians in Ukraine who wished to support orphans, poor families and children. In April 2007, KIDCARE had another opportunity to visit Ukraine, through the invitation of Pastor David Annoh of the Tabernacle church in Dnipropetrovs’k. Dnipropetrovs’k is Ukraine’s third largest city with 1.1 million inhabitants. It is located south of Ukraine’s capital Kiev on the Dnieper River in the south-central region of the country. A vital industrial center of Ukraine, Dnipropetrovs’k was one of the key centers of the nuclear, arms and space industries of the former Soviet Union.
Do contact KIDCARE today if you would like to know more about this or send in a gift donation to KIDCARE writing on the cheque ‘Pastors Care’
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A visit was made to the Harmony orphanage in Nikapol, Ukraine which was home to over 120 children. Many of the children there did not have any parents at all, others’ parents were abusers or were in prison. Although it was an orphanage, it operated as a boarding school as well. Children took classes there as well. This was a beautiful orphanage; clean and very well looked after. Unfortunately, there is much bad publicity made of the bad state of children’s homes in Eastern Europe. Here was one orphanage which was very different from the reports heard in the west. Here the children were happy, healthy and well behaved. They were encouraged in excelling in all forms of art, from playing musical instruments, dancing, bally, drawing, painting, sewing, woodwork, and in making various forms of crafts. Their bedrooms were tidy and there was a clear
culture of good discipline and hard work. The director of the children’s home Mr. Stanislav Kling and his wife took the visitors around and showed them the orphanage. Ray and Susie were very impressed. Stanislaus stated that the children were being looked after by Government funding. However any support that could be given for the older children in furtherance of their education was an area they could do with help.
David and his wife, Galina and family
After sitting to watch the children’s Saturday afternoon show at the orphanage, which was very good and talking with some of the children who could speak English, the team left with a firm offer of friendship between KIDCARE and this Ukrainian orphanage. As to how this was to work out, it was felt that time would tell. The entire trip to the Ukraine was very fruitful. Many lessons were learnt by all sides. There was much to see here in the Ukraine which was so different from the west and much to eat as well as the members of Tabernacle church were extremely hospitable. Strong friendships were made. This is the basis of any future co-operation and working together. KIDCARE will continue to prayerfully seek the Lord’s will for the way forward. If there is any offer of help or anyone would like to discuss any aspect of the trip to Ukraine, please do not hesitate to contact the KIDCARE offices
GHANA KIDCARE’s work in Ghana started in August 2005 when Robert Holmes, Kidcare mission partner from Australia, introduced Susie and Ray to Pastor Samuel Acheampong. Pastor Sam looked after poor, destitute orphans by placing them in the care of the homes of members of his local church. He fed these children and clothed them and when he was able to get some funding assisted them to go to school.
Would you consider assisting us to help support the pastors/ KIDCARE co-ordinators many of whom have pressing needs and have their own children’s school fees to pay and other family financial pressures. Some of these good people need transport, a car, motorbike or bicycle. For some a motor bike or van would not only assist them with their work, but can help provide them with an income. Many would have a huge burden lifted off their shoulders if their children are sponsored to go to school. For others, a contribution towards their living expenses (rent, food) will be much appreciated.
Ray and Susie (KIDCARE directors) went to the Ukraine with the firm belief that God was leading them there for a reason. They met with Pastor David Annoh and his wife Galena who welcomed them with much warmth. Within the 4 days of staying and fellowshipping together, a strong connection was made with Pastor David, his family and his church. A lot of time was spent in talking together, sharing each other’s backgrounds, vision for God’s work, prayer and planning. During that time God knitted their hearts together. There was much love expressed and a willingness to work together.
Our children in Ghana
Sam began this mission with just a few children, which then increased to 12. Kwasi and Naa Adei Boateng who have collectively served as KIDCARE trustees for the last five years are the organisation’s representatives
in Ghana, ensuring an effective partnership with Pastor Sam. Naa Adei serves as the Executive Director, co-ordinating the work of raising funds and support, advice, auditing, mentoring and the oversight of the care of the orphans. Samuel Acheampong maintains his pastoral role in the lives of the children with responsibility for their spiritual well being and ensuring that they go to church regularly In 2005, KIDCARE was able to ship several barrels of second-hand clothing donated in England to the children in Ghana and raised sufficient funds to enable them to attend school. During Christmas 2006, food hampers containing rice, cooking oil, sweets and other food provisions along with a gift-wrapped Christmas present and greeting card from KIDCARE was given to each child. It was very heart warming to see the joy on their faces as they expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the generosity of KIDCARE donors. On behalf of the children, we once again say, THANK YOU.
Currently, KIDCARE is in the process of buying two plots of land to build an orphanage in one plot and use the other plot for a livestock and vegetable farm. We also urgently require significant funding to enable us temporarily rent a suitable building in which the children can move into immediately. Their present living conditions is undesirable.
Naa Adei Boateng, Directors of Kidcare, Ghana
We have committed this to prayer and by God’s grace we hope that we will soon receive the answers to our prayers. God bless you all. Naa Adei
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UPDATES ON OUR PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES SPONSOR A CHILD
Giving children the basics. Please sponsor a child today
KIDCARE’s sponsor a child programme gives an individual an opportunity for selfdevelopment by paying the child’s school fees, books, clothing and other school requirements. The child also becomes a part of a church based programme, where Christian adults offer love, guidance and personal attention. We recognise the God given value and potential of each individual child. These children can grow up to be responsible members of their communities. It is our hope that all children who are sponsored within the KIDCARE programme will experience inner healing and peace from their traumatic past and present.
Orphans in the Phillippines
All children who come into our programme are extremely poor. Many of them are orphans and a few are destitute with nowhere to go. Many of those who attend our orphanages are children who have no one to look after them and a few have very elderly relatives who cannot cope.
the countries in which we work at least once a year. Our teams, which usually include KIDCARE trustees as well as the directors, make annual onsite visits to all projects in the respective countries. These trips, give KIDCARE the opportunity to oversee the progress of our programmes and audit all finances donated from the UK. In South Africa, our sponsorship is with children living in the townships of Klerksdorp. KIDCARE has sponsored over 15 children at various stages of education since 1999. Currently children sponsored come from extension 20. Their school fees, uniforms, books and school outing trips are catered for. In Ghana, 12 children are being sponsored to school. These children are orphans. In Uganda, our children are currently being sponsored from remote villages such as Idoome and from previously war torn areas of Lira and Gulu. To date we sponsor children from 5 different remote and very poor villages in the heartland of Uganda. Most children have access to school in Uganda, but the schools in the villages are very, very poor and the standard is such that children leave them with very little education. The cycle of poverty thus continues. Kidcare offers children who come into their care the chance to go to better schools where they will have an opportunity to get a better level of education than in the village schools. There are expensive private run schools in Uganda, however our children do not go there for our regular sponsorship moneys cannot and will not cater for children to go to those schools. Currently KIDCARE sponsors 54 children to school in Uganda. 18 of whom are currently going to secondary school. 4 are in vocational schools learning secretarial work, electrical or plumbing. 2 have finished and are working in different areas as hairdressers and office workers. We currently have one who should be going to the University in October this year. KIDCARE has looked after 8 other children for varying periods of time (around 2 to 7 years) and they have left the programme for various reasons. Some leave due to the extended family being found and willing to take care of them, others leave because they are unable to settle and stay in the children’s homes (inspite of all attempts to assist them). A couple have become pregnant and have left and few were expelled from school due to consistent poor behaviour.
SUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDREN’S HOMES
Sponsored child receives much needed spectacles
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY When your donations are sent from the UK to any of our children abroad, KIDCARE provides the coordinator with a detailed breakdown of how the funds are to be allocated. The coordinator provides receipts, income expenditure reports, school reports, regular telephone progress reports, and also sends photographic evidence of how the money is used. In addition, KIDCARE visits
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KIDCARE partners with local churches, other charities and organisations to build and maintain already established orphanages. The sort of assistance needed in our homes are primarily financial donations which will assist tight budgets for feeding, medical expenses, utility bills, provision of miscellaneous items necessary for the proper function of a home, allowances for carers, social and entertainment expenses for the children, better clothing, sanitary provisions, etc. Gift donations of clothing, toys, books, computers blankets, sheets, etc are all welcome. Children are brought into the orphanages when space becomes available. In many cases, we do not wait for sponsors to come
to share with those who really care. They long for a loving response and affection from a parent. At the homes, it is the carer who responds to these needs. Please remember both the carers and the orphans in your prayers. It is also important not to forget to write letters of encouragement to orphans in our homes. Any suggestions on how we can improve the Children’s homes are welcome.
Kidcare’s children home, Buwenge
forward before providing for these children. Unfortunately, there are always children from desperate circumstances waiting for help and we feel strongly that we should look after them as soon as possible. We trust God to provide financially according to His promises - and He does. Children who live in KIDCARE supported homes are looked after by a live in carer, receive meals and are treated as children would in any home. Children who can are sent to school. Children who come into an orphanage are usually between the ages of 4 to 14 years, and begin school at the primary or Nursery school level. When required, we take brothers and sisters together. On occasions, a mother is able to care for her small child, but needs to leave other siblings in the care of the orphanage. A sponsor can sponsor brothers and sisters from the same family as well as sponsor as many children as they wish.
with photographic evidence when the item is purchased.
FAITH IN ACTION IS GIVING
Giving toys to a nursery school, South Africa
With the help of generous donations from benefactors, KIDCARE is able to give shoes, towels, blankets, medical supplies, mattresses, furniture, mosquito nets, bicycles, clothing, toys and much more to families and their children, as well as donate books and computers to schools. KIDCARE has sent and will continue to send books, Bibles, play equipment for school, clothes, shoes, towels, slippers, sanitary towels, medicines, spectacles, computers, blackboards, teaching materials, colouring pencils, etc.
Feast for street boys in South Africa
TV and fridge giving to a children’s home, Uganda
MEDICAL CARE AND SUPPORT
Kidcare is currently investigating the process of shipping large amounts of clothing, toys and books and the cost this will entail in various countries. We currently do not offer this service or means of sending gifts to children and any benefactor who has a large consignment of books, clothing or toys etc., they wish KIDCARE to send to the poor in countries we work in should also consider financial contributions towards their shipping or airfreight. Please contact KIDCARE for a discussion if you wish to help in this way.
medicines to Gulu Hospital
Toys for the children
KIDCARE FEEDING PROGRAMME Gatas Children’s home, Philippines
As we think about the progress materially of these orphanages, we must remember the children’s emotional stability and their sense of well-being and happiness at these homes. It is with tremendous joy that we are able to report that all our homes are filled with happy children. However, the everyday care, discipline, nurturing of so many children in one home is not easy. We are thankful for the work of the matrons and carers who live in the homes with the children. Boys and girls need mums and /or dads who love them and are willing and able to care for them. When this does not happen, the love and care of guardians is critical. Orphans feel this lack when they have bad dreams at night, feel scared, feel unjustly treated at school, are sick or have good news they would love
Gift of brand new shoes, Uganda
Often benefactors give donations of cash which are used to buy beds, mattresses, blankets, tables, chairs, mosquito nets, cupboards, kitchen utensils, school books, computers and specific items. This is the preferred method of giving as Kidcare can allocate the moneys given towards the exact need, which is often very diverse and may be pressing at the moment. The list of things that can be purchased for the poor is endless. As a need arises, we often appeal for funding to purchase the item. Many of these items can be bought in the host countries themselves. Any amounts given for a specific purpose will be spent on exactly that item(s). An account will be given usually
KIDCARE supports feeding programmes for the poor. This project ensures that children are fed. The more funds we receive, the more children we can feed and feed more regularly; For example children can be fed every day, every other day, or once a week. In South Africa, Kidcare supports a daily feeding project in the townships of Klerksdorp. In the Philippines, support is given to buy food for the poor on a weekly basis. Each time there is a mission trip to any country, one of the first Gift of medical supplies to town clinic, Buwenge, Uganda & medical supplies to school
SCHOOLS AND YOUTH SUPPORT KIDCARE
Feeding programme, distribution Philippines
priorities is to organise a social event where children or villages will be fed. This often means taking children in the orphanage to a restaurant, organising for the whole school to be given an especially nutritious meal, or arranging for villages to come together for a cooked meal where all share.
Support for children’s boarding facilities, Bweyogerere
Toilets for a nursery school, South Africa
It is our aim to establish or support medical units, which assist those suffering from various childhood diseases, as well as provide care for children and their families suffering from HIV AIDS. Currently we provide funding to assist those in need to receive the necessary medical attention and give donations of medical supplies to hospitals and clinics. We also encourage medical practitioners to visit some of these nations and poorer areas to offer their services or as part of a programme of education. Several times on mission trips, we take medicines donated to us and give to local town hospitals and clinics.
In the UK, KIDCARE has visited schools, youth clubs in Surrey, South London and Dundee, Scotland. We make various presentations, which may involve showing pupils a slide show. We also present pictures of past trips made by our teams to other parts of the world while on assignment. Both Head teachers and teachers alike often report to us that our visits are of tremendous value in educating local children to the plight of others. Our presentations are normally tailored according to prior discussions we have had with a school. It can be presented at any time of the year, including Harvest Festival, Black History month, Christmas, Easter and the like.
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• Vocational centres Cost – £8000-£10000: Such centres encourage cottage industries such as, catering, hairdressing, sewing, and carpentry, which in turn promote trades like plumbing and electrical engineering.
We find that this proves very beneficial to schools in the following ways:
School in Scotland support
UK school in Croydon supports Kidcare International
• Students learn about the lives of children inother communities. It educates them in areas such as geography, history, and sociology. • Students learn to be charitable. • Students learn not to take their own wealth for granted. • Students have fun participating in imaginative fundraising activities, while gaining a sense of personal satisfaction associated with making a difference in the lives of less fortunate children.
FAMILY SUPPORT KIDCARE ‘s aim in the UK and abroad is to provide family centres for the benefit of the public to give support by way of marriage seminars, parenting classes and also assistance through conciliation for couples whose relationships appear to be breaking down. Many families need extra support to meet their challenges or simply to strengthen the family unit. Often input, advice or training given by experienced, professional, friendly and caring people equips families to bring up children in a stable environment.
• Computer centres Cost – £10,000: Such centres will provide facilities for the ongoing education of our orphans, while generating income as Internet cafes, and providing fax and photocopying services. • Start-up capital for local businesses Cost – £500 to £3000: Setting-up catering stalls, kiosks to sell farm produce and locally made artefacts, corn mills, and salons to name a few, will have a domino effect in promoting development and self reliance. • Land acquisition Cost – £4000 - £5000: Purchasing local farmlands for orphanages to grow produce and practice animal husbandry, which further promotes self-reliance. • Motor bikes Cost – £700: For some very poor pastors, a motorbike is a genuine investment, which can also bring income to poor families in the villages of Uganda. KIDCARE‘s aim in all circumstances is to advance the care and development of children and strong family units in accordance with Christian principles
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT Kidcare supports families in townships in South Africa
Taking Kidcare to UK school assemblies
Funds raised by children in schools and youth events have gone towards specific items of need such as purchasing new clothing and shoes, toilets for a nursery school, meals for feeding projects, a television for an orphanage, support for a medical bill, treating orphans to a day out in a funfair, a meal out for orphans at a Restaurant, beds, blankets, tables and chairs and also assisted in the building of classrooms and a medical clinic. Schools in London have also donated books and a computer to schools in Uganda and South Africa.
It is further envisaged that support will be given for after-school care, crèches and nursery schools, youth clubs, youth advisory counselling and advisory centres. Abroad, KIDCARE has assisted in the care of destitute children by assisting in providing facilities for drop in centres/half way homes for street children. We also support remedial centres that assist children with special educational needs. KIDCARE has given on a monthly basis to the families of needy ministers of the Gospel and is currently looking at ways of assisting them to support themselves through some form of income generation.
In the UK and many other nations, Kidcare visits schools and engages with children in assemblies to show them how other children live in others parts of the world – and God’s care for them. It is Kidcare’s objective to encourage youth clubs and provide youth advisory and counselling centres.
Kidcare’s youth development project for the poor assists in educating and training youngsters who come from very poor families to get a vocation and employment. Kidcare encourages and will financially support apprenticeships. Kidcare also support youngsters from poor families who want to attend Bible schools. Youth Band from True Vine church, UK on mission in Uganda
Often schools and youth clubs raise funds through imaginative activities. Funds have been raised through activities such as mufti days, through school concerts, Christmas concerts, Easter & Harvest Festivals and the like. Kidcare has been very blessed to have nursery, primary and secondary schools and one youth club assist in this way.
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Such income generation projects include: • Taxis and Buses Cost – £6000: Not only will this cater for the transportation needs of our children to and from school, but will also provide income whilst the children are at school.
The work of True Vine International Mission presently consists of: – A church in the U.K known as True Vine Church
True Vine Church assists with a Kidcare Fun Fair
UPDATE OF MISSION PARTNERS UK True Vine Church Trust Is the name of the umbrella registered trust organisation, which covers the work of True Vine International Mission. This trust
– A missions programme which is apostolic and involves mentoring leaders, leadership training, apostolic and prophetic schools, coupled with community outreach projects both in the UK and abroad. The mission’s programme has a well-established network of partnerships with churches and Christian ministries in the UK and worldwide. – Partnership and spiritual covering of KIDCARE International.
Previously KIDCARE International’s annual financial accounts (from 1999 accounts up to the 2005/06 financial year) were submitted under True Vine church trust to the charity commissioners. Carnoustie Christian Fellowship We are an independent non-denominational Church on the East Coast of Scotland. The fellowship is a warm and loving body of believers in Angus, Scotland who support KIDCARE’s program of sponsoring young adults to school with the objective of assisting them to University. Further information about us is available on the Internet at: http:// wwww.carnoustiechristianfellowship. org.uk
KIDCARE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Kidcare International is a non profit private company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital (company registered in England no. 5968235). Kidcare is also a registered UK charity (Registered under the Charity Commission England and Wales no. 1118180). Kidcare International’s objectives and organisational rules are set out in its Memorandum and Articles of Association (copies of which are available at its registered offices and can be given on request). The company’s has a Board of Trustees who are based in the UK. The executive arm of Kidcare is headed by the Chief Executive Director who together with other voluntary staff administers the day to day running of Kidcare. The Executive director is responsible for the management of Kidcare’s work both in the UK and abroad. The Executive Director is currently also the founder of Kidcare.
Kidcare at Gulu refugee camps in northern Uganda, sponsoring children to school
Kidcare International’s offices are located in Surrey, England in the UK. Kidcare works through the support of individuals and partners with organizations in the UK and in different nations. In some nations(for example Ghana), Kidcare endeavours to set up a national registered office and in such cases the UK Board of Trustees work with the assistance of National Directors/Trustees in those countries. The Executive Director manages the operations of Kidcare programmes to ensure that Kidcare’s objectives are met and accounts to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees oversees Kidcare budgets and ensures that resources are used properly and that programs are carried out as planned.
Training youth in the Philippines on leadership
After school club in South African township, supporting poor families
is registered with the Charity Commissioners in England and Wales (Charity number 1046121).
KIDCARE assists in the care of destitute children by supporting drop in centres/ half way homes for street children assisting children with special educational needs. For more information on KIDCARE and what we do, please visit
www.kidcare-international.org
The Board of Trustees is advised by an Advisory Board. They consist of registered members of Kidcare International private limited company. The National Directors/Trustees of Kidcare in different nations are accountable to the Board of Trustees and work closely with the Executive Director. The Executive Director and the National Directors/Trustees of each country set goals and arrange programs, to attain the vision, goals and mission of Kidcare International in their region. They also oversee budgets and ensure that resources are used properly and that programs are carried out as planned. They devise strategies, formulate policies and direct the operations of Kidcare programmes to ensure that Kidcare’s objectives are met.
Kidcare at Mindanao, Philippines, supporting orphans. Orphans at Prayer
Currently all of Kidcare International’s funding and donations in kind comes from private sources mainly individuals, some schools who engage in fundraising and a number of churches. Kidcare International has a Christian ethos. True Vine Church, the umbrella organization which birthed Kidcare in April 1999 and incorporated it under its trust as its missionary arm. True Vine Church trust is registered under the Charity Commissioners England and Wales (Charity number 1046121). Today Kidcare as a limited company is independent of True Vine Church but still works in partnership with TRUE VINE CHURCH.
Kidcare in Accra Ghana, caring for orphans
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Appreciation For Support
Kidcare International
M
alcolm and Rosemary Crow are Kidcare International’s UK Advisory Members (Formerly Trustees of KIDCARE). They live in Dundee, Scotland. They have 4 children (three of whom are married) and one grandson. Malcolm and Rosemary in the UK have given immense support for the work of Kidcare for the last 5 years. Malcolm has been on two Kidcare mission trips to South Africa and Uganda in 2001. Malcolm’s memories of South Africa, he states, was the experience of seeing children of all ages dying with HIV without any relative to nurture them. Rosemary is a Christian and sees her involvement in supporting the work of KIDCARE as an outworking of the love Jesus has for all people, especially His instruction to feed the poor and to provide for orphans. She and her husband Malcolm are actively involved in a local Christian fellowship, Carnoustie Christian Fellowship, a UK KIDCARE partner, which also gives support to our projects.
Children, Family & Community Christian Mission Helping children, strengthening families and supporting communities worldwide in the name of Jesus
WHO WE ARE
Malcom Crow with Nunnoo, 7 Month HIV baby
Rosemary’s mission trip to Uganda in June 2006 was the first time she had ever been to Uganda or indeed Africa. She prepared months ahead by raising awareness in schools, fundraising at car boot sales, selling homemade cakes and pies etc.
Kidcare’s international programme places special emphasis on those living in extreme poverty. In some parts of the world, children and families are poor or destitute with no home; countless children are unable to go school; many are sick and cannot receive basic medical attention and one child dies of malnutrition every eight seconds.
Exhausting as this was, her passion to make a difference to the lives of some of the world’s poor kept her going. She finally came to London, the weekend of her travel to Uganda, to join the team with big bags of gifts for the children, a box full of hand knitted stuffed dolls (a gift from an elderly lady in Scotland especially knitted for the occasion) jumpers, a suitcase full of medicines to be given as gifts to a hospital, children’s homes and schools and money she had raised from her activities in Dundee, Scotland. When in Uganda, she took everything in. She was amazed at how crowded Kampala was. The busyness of traders, people, and cars moving in all directions marveled her. She quickly adapted to moving swiftly in between cars and bicycles as a pedestrian. She was particularly burdened by the poverty she saw. She used every opportunity to speak to people, to pray with many, to testify of her faith in God and the love God had poured in her heart for the children she met and their guardians.
KIDCARE INTERNATIONAL is a Christian charity founded in April 1999. We are UK based with partners and subsidiary branches in different nations. We are dedicated to addressing the needs of children, strengthening families and contributing positively to as many communities as we can both in the UK and around the world.
Rosemary Crow at Gulu Refugee camp
It is also the case that in the UK and other nations, youngsters and their families need assistance ranging from youth support and development programmes, pre-marital and marriage seminars, parenting classes and other germane and appreciable provision to build up the foundations of the family unit so as to have stronger communities. Working together in partnership, we can make a difference.
OUR OBJECTIVES
Her infectious smile and laughter drew many to her and caused a number of older people to come forward for prayer and salvation. She was an enormous source of strength to the rest of the team, finding words of wisdom from the bible everyday and shared them at appropriate moments to inspire all. Late at night she would bring insights on what she had seen, had a willing spirit to learn about the different cultural ways of the people and never passed judgment on any thing she saw which was puzzling and new to her.
KIDCARE is committed to
1. Assisting in the development of children and youth by providing for their social, economic and spiritual development. 2. Assisting families in relevant ways.
Malcolm and Rosemary continue to promote the cause of KIDCARE as UK advisors and representatives. It is acknowledged that their passion is as result of their ongoing commitment to Jesus Christ and their source of strength as they both confess, comes from God. The appreciation given in this article reflects sentiments expressed by the co-ordinator in Uganda, Reverend James Bwengye and the children of Uganda. We thank God for Malcolm and Rosemary and all the glory goes to God for what He has enabled them to do.
3. Working in partnership with individuals, churches, schools and other organisations to positively influence the lives of children. 4. Being financially accountable to all sponsors and benefactors, and further, dispensing funds for the intended purpose. Malcolm and Rosemary, with guides and brownies fundraise for Kidcare
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Celebrating 8 years! 1999 - 2007 If you have an enquiry about KIDCARE International, would like further information about specific aspects of our work, or would like to help us in any way, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us at:
KIDCARE International, 67 Melfort Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7RT Tel / Fax: +44 (0) 208 405 1511 Mobile Telephone: +44 (0) 7908 782 123 Email: info@kidcare-international.org Website: www.kidcare-international.org KIDCARE INTERNATIONAL is a non profit incorporated private limited company, Registration No. 5968235. Kidcare International is also a UK Registered charity No. 1118180. Kidcare works in partnership with the TRUE VINE CHURCH Trust (Registered UK Charity Trust No. 1046121.) TRUE VINE’s work involves community outreach projects and it has a well established network of partnerships with other organizations, many of whom also work with KIDCARE INTERNATIONAL both in the UK and worldwide.
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