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The Michael Project Newsletter
July 2002
Contents
The Wingate Play Centre opens
Six
months ago, this dusty corner of the Wingate community was nothing more than
dry African bush, but from the time that a visiting Oasis Global Action Team
started to dig long drop toilets, it has been transformed into a hive of activity.
The builders, roofers, plumbers, carpenters and DIY enthusiasts amongst
you will know that it takes a great deal of co-ordination, planning,
petrol and time – African time that is, to build an 8 x 6.4 metre structure!!
We learnt quickly, and by early May, the Play Centre was finally ready to
open its doors to the children from the Wingate community.
The Play Centre consists of a teaching room, equipped with tables and chairs, blackboards, bookshelf, dressing up area and carpeted listening area, a storeroom, a fenced playground, and the three Blair (long drop) toilets.
Official Opening
Pastor Rikki Decker officially opened the Play Centre on
Thursday 9th May 2002 by cutting the ribbon. His prayer was that Jesus be
the first person to enter the building when the doors were opened, and that
these children would be transformed by a relationship with Jesus.
Transformation
A total of 26 children between the ages of three and six
years were registered. Apart from one child who has been feverish and not
at all well, all the other children have been attending the Play Centre regularly.
The transformation in not only their learning abilities, which has been enormous,
but in their faces when they complete a picture or make a necklace, is wonderful.
One little girl in particular comes from a very sad background. Her mother
died the week that we opened, possibly from beatings by her husband, leaving
herself and two brothers the smallest of whom is only two months old. This
little girl arrived with an incredibly ‘old’ face – full
of the story of her hard young life, but after four weeks she is now a different
child. One of the teachers in particular is very good with her, and her delight
in being loved is mesmerising.
We employ three Shona speaking assistant teachers who have been on a ten week training course, and who continue to learn on-the-job. At present both Joanna and Helen are running the Centre, with the intention of handing over to Monica, Sheila and Regina in the next year. During break time, the children are given a high protein drink, known as mahewu, to supplement their diet.
Sewing Classes
In addition to the Play Centre, the building is also being
used for sewing classes one afternoon a week.These began two weeks after the
Play Centre opened and Val Morran from Greystone Park Christian Fellowship
is currently teaching 17 women from the community to sew and cut patterns.
At present they are learning basic hand sewing skills, but we hope to progress
to machine sewing once suitable machines have been acquired. Our hope is that
this will generate income enabling the women to send their children to school
once they leave the Centre.
Impact
on the Community
The impact of the Play Centre on the community is evident.
One of the fathers of the children commented on how it was now “a new
Wingate”. It has definitely introduced a sense of pride into their community
and a degree of hope.
The children
attend school
The eight older orphans, who live in the Wingate community,
are now in their second term of school, having been enrolled
in January.
They all enthusiastically walk the 8 km to the classrooms everyday, and are
progressing well with their studies.
“My special thanks goes to all donors of the church. We are receiving all goods which you are sending to us every time. We are now going to school because of your help …..God Bless you” – extract of a letter from one of the children.
It is still difficult to visit Chihota, due to the unrest in this rural area, although our Shona pastor, Elizabeth, does make the trip twice a month. She visits the church and the pre-school, as well as the 17 orphans sent to school by The Michael Project. The children’s school reports for the first term show that many of them are struggling with their studies, due to the lack of support and encouragement normally received from parents. Our prayer is that God will raise up guardians to fill this role in their lives.
“We thank you for supporting the cause of disadvantaged pupils” – in a letter from the Headmaster of the primary school in Chihota.
Work in the Prison continues
The Michael Project continues to minister to the women
with young children, in Chikurubi Prison, under the watchful eye of a new
Officer in Charge. Deep hurt is reflected in many of the women’s eyes,
and it is our desire that not only would their physical and material needs
be met, but that there would also be emotional healing as a result of the
limited time that we spend sharing with them. We requested approval for more
frequent bible studies with the women, but have yet to receive the go ahead.
Many women have been released from the prison in a recent Amnesty, and our prayer is that the seed sown in their hearts will grow, and that they will find a home in a local church. We were greatly encouraged when a lady visiting the morning service at Greystone Park Christian Fellowship recently, approached one of The Michael Project team saying “do you remember me? You used to visit me in prison”.
Please Pray for
Our new teachers as they attend the Oasis PEPE
training course during the next three months.
The grieving families in the Wingate Community, and in particular the children who have been orphaned as a result.
Our feeding programme in Binga, that God would continue directing us to those children with the greatest need.
