Pam Jamison, Carryou Ministry Founder, reflects on the year that was

It is indeed wonderful to be able to report on another year of successful and fruitful ministry by Carryou and I wish to thank everyone for the strong support, especially our funders, Executive Committee, Management, including the general communities and everyone who is interested in this organisation and wishes to assist in some way.
 My experience at Carryou taught me there are many ways to help and teach children who have no adult guidance and supervision. This (past) financial year one of my initiatives focused more on reading and I had the great privilege to coach and mentor children in terms of reading the English language.
 Please allow me to reflect (for a moment) on other Carryou achievements during the year.

• Our orphaned and vulnerable children love to have a book read to them. They currently have access to a library of books from generous donors, however, there is still a need to have community caregivers properly trained to assist in the reading sessions.
• Most of our children arrive at our Drop-in Centres, every day, after school at around 13h00. It is a fact that while some enjoy reading and others enjoy other extramural activities, some still need help with school homework.
• Our community caregivers and some of our community members have started planting vegetables as a means to help cope with the high price of food for children. The produce will be organically-grown in a tunnel on our farm-holding in Vleikop.
• We have a container-creche at Elandsvlei that is attended by 30 learners. Two trained caregivers are taking care of this useful facility.
• All our 1153 orphaned and vulnerable children receive breakfast, a lunchbox and a balanced meal after school at Elandsvlei and at our main Drop-in Centre In Toekomsrus. Some meals are also still delivered and distributed at the feeding-points where children are unable to come to the DICs as a result of distance.
• Some businesses continue to grant us discounts when purchasing groceries for the centres and this really eases some of the pressures of trying to stay within the allocated budgets.
• Our bakery eventually became compliant with the local municipality health-inspection unit and started with operations. Loaves of bread were produced for the children to take home, while some were sold at an affordable price to different communities and NGOs.
• Several of our senior children passed well in Grade 12 and were accepted into various colleges, with the help and dedication of of our Social Auxillary Workers and Management team.
• Home nursing is still done by caregivers trained by the Health Department and concentrates on hygiene and rehab.
• People infected by HIV and those suffering from TB, became healthy quickly as they took their medicines regularly through treatment adherence support from caregivers and counselors.

May our Lord continue to bless all our workers and clients with His love.

The first sods are turned at Vleikop

Randfontein Town Council donates seeds. (L-R) Thembi Matuwane, MMC Social Services, Brenda Mahuma, MMC Public Safety, Sylvia Thebenare, Executive Mayor, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, Carryou Ministry General Manager, Pam and Tony Jamison, Carryou Ministry founders.

 There were scenes of joy at Carryou Ministry's Vleikop Farming project this morning when the Randfontein Municipality handed over seeds so the first crops can be planted.
 The occasion, although a day early, was part of the local Town Council's Nelson Mandela birthday celebrations and a number of dignitaries, Including Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare, were present.
 Also there were Carryou Ministry founders, Pam and Tony Jamison, as was a large number of members of the surrounding community who came to sign up for a farm-worker training programme (see the previous post).
 "It is fitting that we are here today to start a project that will provide both employment, training and food for many," said Carryou Ministry, General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, "especially when we bear in mind how important planting and nurturing a seed was to Madiba. He wrote, while on Robben Island, gardening was the only thing the prisoners had control over."

Rev. Lawrence Mabaso and Umshini Consultants Chairman, Cecile Kirk

 "This is a very important project that must be taken seriously by the community," said Randfontein Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare. "We must remember this was barren land that through the efforts and support of many people will soon produce food.
 "A family of four can be fed from a piece of ground the size of a household door," she said, "so just imagine how many people these two tunnels will feed! We, as the municipality, will do everything in our power to support you."
 Cecile Kirk, Chairman of Umshini Consultants, who will be organising and running the Farm Workers Training Course, explained how it would work and what is required.
 And then, to the joy and delight of all present, the first soil-sods were turned and the first seeds were planted.

Members of the community register for the Farm Workers Training Course

The community becomes involved

A small token of appreciation was presented to Pam Jamison

Councillors Thembi Matuwane and Tshidi Kimane, join Executive Mayor, Sylvia Thebenare and get stuck in.