Thank you!

 With the downturn in the South African economy, NGOs are finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds, and Carryou Ministry is not immune to this.
 "This has been a tough year," says Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, Carryou Ministry's General Manager. "Without the help of generous US sponsors, coordinated by our guardian angel, Sue Heywood, many children would have faced a bleak Christmas indeed."
 For many years Sue and her band of faithful supporters have improved the lives of a large number of people in Randfontein. They provided money to be used for food parcels, school fees and uniforms, educational apparatus, sports equipment, and cash for school-leavers to attend universities and technikons.
 As a result, a number of graduates have returned to their communities, where they now make valuable contributions.
 This week the beneficiaries of the US largesse gathered at the Toekomsrus Drop-in Center to make posters to thank Sue and her American sponsors.
 "I am humbled by their ongoing kindness and generosity," says Rev. Mabaso. "Thank you! I trust you will all have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed 2018."

Sue visits

 Sue Heywood, one of Carryou Ministry's biggest supporters, visited us last week.
 Over the past sixteen years, Sue, together with St Mary's Church in Tuxedo, New York in the USA, and a host of generous, private American donors, has provided financial support without which Carryou would not have been able to continue to exist.
 Every year Sue comes to visit us. She brings clothes for needy families, equipment for the Drop In Centres, and calls on children and families who benefit from the generosity of our kind American friends.
 Here are some photographs taken during her latest trip.

Hard work at the Randfontein Show

 
Another successful Randfontein Show has come and gone, and once again Carryou Ministry, together with the Gauteng Department of Health was there, raising money and awareness, and offering health-screening and counselling services to thousands of show visitors.

Upgrades at Early Childhood Development Centre

 Recently upgrades were made at the Carryou Ministries Early Childhood Development Center in Elandsvlei.
 A steel canopy was erected outside one of the classrooms to provide shade for the kids, and a 2 500 litre tank was set up to catch rain water from the canopy. The harvested water will be used to irrigate a vegetable garden.

Back on Track

Themba, Tony and Stephen proudly display some of the tomatoes harvested and ready to be sold.

 A few months ago a violent storm damaged the tunnels at the Carryou Ministries' farming programme at Vleikop.
 The damage caused, seriously curtailed food production for the Elandsvlei and Toekomsrus Drop-in Centres.

Storm damage

 "We were able to limp along, but couldn't produce the quantity of crops grown in the past," says Stephen Ngakane, manager at the facility. "We also faced water problems."

Money

 As always, finding money to make the repairs and get activities back on course was a problem, until Carryou Co-Founder, Tony Jamison, stepped in and personally provided the more than R20 000 required.
 "When children are in need, I cannot stand idly and do nothing," he said.
 Recent heavy rains and hot weather resulted in a never-ending battle with weeds, and this week Stephen and Themba, a volunteer from nearby, were hard at work, digging out the invading plants and preparing the ground for the planting of winter crops.

Harvesting

Planning the planting of winter crops

 In the meantime they continue to harvest and sell tomatoes.
 "We intend to plant spinach, onions, cabbage and carrots," says Tony, who is now working in close co-operation with Stephen.

The war against weeds never ends!

Class of 2016

As proud as Punch! Carryou Ministries founder, Sr. Pam Jamison and General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso with Samuel Masebe (23) who last year, with the help of Carryou, successfully completed the first year of his degree at Wits University.

 At Carryou Ministries we are committed to uplifting and helping children become the best they can be. It is our goal to help kids realise their full potential and grow up to lead successful lives.
 Every day, at our Drop-in Centres in Toekomsrus and Elandsvlei, youngsters are given a healthy cooked meal, and trained Carryou Ministries staff members are available to help kids with homework, and other problems that may arise at school.
 So it was with great joy that we met with some of the youngsters who wrote and passed their matric exams last year. The purpose of the meeting was to see what the kids planned to do with their lives, and how Carryou could further help them, if possible.

Degrees

 Over the years, mostly with the help of financial aid from generous US sponsors, co-ordinated by Sue Heywood, some youngsters have successfully completed university degrees and are now productive members of society and giving back to the community.
 "We are extremely grateful to our donors and proud of the youngsters who grasped the opportunities given them," says Carryou General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso.
 Lawrence took time to brief the matriculants on the power of vision and planning, in order to become successful.
 "You must first have a firm vision what you want to do in life, and how you can serve people," he said. "Then formulate a plan of exactly what steps you need to take, and set time-related goals to achieve those steps.
 "You must know what is required, and map out exactly what must be done to get there," he told the matriculants. "Carryou will do what we can to help you, but in the end it is your life, your responsibility, and you will have to knuckle down and put in effort."

Example

 He pointed to Samuel Masebe (23), a young man who grew up in a shack in Elandsvlei, who last year successfully completed the first year of his degree at Wits University.
 "He is an example to all of us," said Lawrence.
 Samuel paid tribute to the help he got from Carryou.
 "I couldn't have achieved what I have without them," he says. "They kept encouraging me and provided financial assistance while I waited for a bursary to be approved. When the bursary came through there was still a shortfall,v and Carryou's American donors stepped up and helped.
 "I can hardly describe how grateful I am!"
 The class of 2016 has high hopes and lofty goals. They want to eventually become medical technologists, public administrators, Correctional Services officials and nurses.

Rev. Mabaso addresses successful matriculants and staff members on the importance of vision and setting goals.

Angels from near and far

Food parcels purchased with cash donated by US donors make life bearable for many.

 For more than 15 years, many, generous and kind folk in the US have financially supported Carryou Ministries. Without them, the organisation would likely not have survived. They have donated more than $ 500,000.
The following people and organizations in the US have been regular donors. Thank you!
 Jani Hegarty and the staff of Health and Wellness, NJ, Dianne and Doug Buckminster and American Express Gift Matching Programme, Jean, Ray and Rossi Ruffino, Martha DiPaolo, Emily and Chris Heffernan, Barbara and Bob Swanson, Kathy and Bill Lathrop, Christine Potts and St John's Church Ramsey, Tuxedo Park School, Baker High School, all the parishioners of St Mary's- in- Tuxedo who donate through the yard sales, bake sales and pancake breakfasts, particularly Prudence and George Thurston, Nan and Josh Bewlay, Jane Garofano, Serene Swirbul, and Lili Neuhauser.
 Current sponsors of individual children and families, donating  twice a year, are  Rachel and Paul DiPaolo, Maureen and Eric Honor, Martha Anderson, Sandy Taylor, Mandy and Steve Horne, Ann and Dan Gladding, and Sue Heywood.

Computers at the Carryou offices for the use of students

 Not only have these people helped feed countless, needy children, but individual local youngsters have also been provided  with computers, placed in the Carryou offices for their use, and funds needed to go to school and then attend tertiary education facilities. Some of these youngsters have completed university degrees, and are now back serving our local communities. Donors in the US also provided books, games, sports equipment, and furnishings for our two DICs, enabling these centers to offer the children so much more than the healthy meals being served daily to over 800 children.

Kids at Elandsvlei get books as a result of US donations

Sue Heywood hands over sports equipment

Robbed

 When General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, was recently held up at gunpoint and robbed of R33 000 outside Carryou Ministry's offices in Randfontein, Sue Heywood and her 'US Angels' stepped up and helped us in our hour of need. The cash the robbers stole was money he had withdrawn from his own pension savings in an effort to save Carryou from financial ruin.
 "There was a delay in funds promised to us, and as a result we were unable to pay the salaries of some of our staff members," says Rev. Mabaso. "These people also have to eat, pay their bills and keep roofs over their heads, so I took it upon myself to draw from my savings to help tide us over until things improved."  Lawrence's own salary was one of those that could not be paid.
 "I drew the money and believe the criminals followed me back to our offices, where they put a gun to my head, took the cash, my cell phone, car keys and wallet."

Help

 The incident caused shock, disbelief and anger, but people quickly rallied around to help.
 In the US, Sue Heywood put the word out and immediately sent $1,500, funds that had been raised the same day as the robbery through a Community Yard Sale of second hand goods donated by St Mary’s-in- Tuxedo parishioners and friends.  Individual donors like Bob and Happy Millen, Rachel DiPaolo, Sue Heywood, and Chris and Emily Heffernan followed suit. This money will be sent shortly.
 Back home, the Randfontein Herald, the town's local newspaper, ran an article and appealed to the public to help. The Randfontein Publicity Association sent out an appeal to all its members. Shane Knowles, owner of Transwide Cellular, replaced Rev. Mabaso's stolen phone, and Ocean Basket restaurant in Randfontein gave Lawrence and his wife a meal voucher, as a small part of the cash he withdrew was to have a little family gathering to celebrate his wife's recent university graduation.
 Georgina Caetano, founder of the Just in Time Baby Sanctuary, an organisation also constantly struggling for funding, made a personal cash donation.
 "It is humbling to see how many people care and are concerned," says Rev. Mabaso. "We are deeply grateful to the folk who have supported us and continue to do so."
 Carryou is strengthened by knowing that people locally, and at the opposite side of the world, support our work which is  improving the quality of life for hundreds of families today, and providing opportunities for healthy and fulfilling lives for the next generation of South Africans.