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.

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.

Elandsvlei Drop-in Centre: 8 years and growing from strength to strength

The pre-school facility at Elandsvlei was move to more spacious grounds recently

The Carryou Ministry, Elandsvlei Drop-in Centre has been in operation for eight years, and in that time has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people, particularly children, in the area.
 Every day, youngsters aged from two to eighteen, receive a hot meal, are assisted with school homework and taught basic life-skills so they will grow up to be better adults.
 The centre is also used by the community for meetings, and kids can use it after hours so they have a quiet, safe place to study.
 "It is a beacon of light an hope in an area that suffers the effects of poverty and unemployment," says Programme Manager, Brenda Naholo. "On a daily basis we service 534 beneficiaries comprising 382 orphans and vulnerable children and 152 adults."
 Forty two children attend the crèche at Elandsvlei that was recently relocated to new, more spacious grounds, with an adjoining safe-park. The facility now has two classrooms, a kitchen and an office with a sick bay.
 "The core business of the Elandsvlei Pre-School is to develop children and get them ready for school grade R," says Brenda. "And also to ensure there is care and support for the kids while parents are at work. By doing so, the chances of child neglect or child trafficking is reduced. School-going kids are also able to use the facility to do their school homework."
 The Drop-in Centre provides an array of services to the community including:

• Facilitation of Child Care Forums
• Facilitation of support groups
• School holidays programmes
• Provision of nutritious daily meals
• Helping children with homework
• Assisting with applications for social grants
• Counselling
• Liaison with social workers and other authorities
• Assisting matriculated orphans with tertiary eduction placements
• Teaching orphans basic housekeeping chores at their own homes
• The running of a variety of health and awareness programmes.

 "We are proud to say, in the 2015/2016 financial year our team members made of over 7 000 successful visits to the communities we serve," says Brenda.

Children in the area now have a safe park

Official opening of the creche and safe park

Carryou Ministry Chairperson, Mrs Pat Semeno cuts the ribbon and declares the facility open.

Carryou Ministry's Annual General Meeting was held at the site of the new creche and children's safe park in Elandsvlei, on the outskirts of Randfontein last week.
 It was an opportunity to report back on the work done and achievements of the previous year, and also the chance to expose the community of Elandsvlei to the activities and workings of the organisation.
 In addition, it was the ideal time to celebrate Carryou Ministry's 16th birthday and to officially open the creche and safe park.

Members of the community and guests were eager to see what was built

Carryou Ministry founder, Sister Pam Jamison and some of the kids at the creche

The was much to celebrate!

If it's a birthday, there must be cake. (l - r) Co-founder, Tony Jamison, Founder, Sister Pam Jamison, General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso, Chairperson, Pat Semeno

There was cake for everyone!

School holiday fun!

 It may be school holidays but the team at Carryou Ministries is busier than ever with activities to keep the kids, occupied, stimulated and off the streets.
 We took a peek with our camera.

More progress!

 It will not be long now before kids in the Elandsvlei area can enjoy the Carryou Ministry Safe Park.
 Late last week the playground equipment was fully erected and the area fenced off.
 The next phase will be to grass the area.

Progress at the Elandsvlei Safe Park

 Things are happening at the site of the Elandsvlei Safe Park and it won't be long before the kids get to test-drive the new jungle-gym equipment.
 We took a look at what was going on this week.

Birth of a Safe Park

 Part of the development plans for the new creche at Elandsvlei is the building of a safe park where kids can play and have fun in safety.
 Earlier this week a number of stake holders from the local community, the Municipality and government departments met to check out the site and make final arrangements.
 Work on the project is planned to start this week.

More progress with the new creche

 All of the buildings are in place and waiting for the arrival of the children at the site of the new creche.
 "We are just waiting for the final funding for the erection of toilets and jungle gyms," says Carryou Ministry General Manager, Rev. Lawrence Mabaso. "As soon as that is done, hopefully very soon, we will be ready to start operating. In the meantime the kids are being catered for at the Elandsvlei Drop In Center.
 "People have been identified who will be sent on Early Childhood Development training courses soon. So it is all systems 'go'."
 "We were able to repay the loan we got, that we used to erect a security fence around the new creche, with donations and grants from the United States, organized by our wonderful friend and partner, Sue Heywood. The generosity and kindness of so many people in the US makes an enormous difference to the lives of people we serve," says Lawrence.

Progress at the new creche

 Things are moving rapidly at the new Elandsvlei Creche. Last week some heavy lifting took place!

A new creche and park

The fence is up, the rest soon to follow!

 A few years ago a creche was set up at the Elandsvlei Drop In Centre to serve the needs of children living in the adjacent informal settlement and on nearby farms.
 "It was always meant to just be temporary measure, while we looked for a larger, more suitable, piece of ground," says Reverend Lawrence Mabaso, Carryou Ministry General Manager.
 "We have now acquired the needed land, and within the next couple of weeks the creche will be relocated."
 The site is conveniently located approximately half way between the current facility and the Mablomong Farm School and will allow a lot more kids to be helped.

Too small

 "Our current area is simply too small," says Rev. Mabaso. "With around 500 kids making use of the facilities at the Drop in Centre, there just is no space for them to play. Added to that, the law requires pre-school children be kept separate from older children."
 In addition to a new creche that will focus on children aged from three to five, a larger safe-park will be developed for the older youngsters.
 "Our creche can currently accommodate around 25 preschoolers but we will be able to double that number when we move," says Rev. Mabaso. "Our goal is to co-operate with the nearby school and prepare the children for Grade R.
 Work is feverishly underway at the new site. The area has been leveled and a new, palisade fence has been constructed.
 "Later this week the containers used as classrooms and a kitchen will be delivered," says Lawrence.

Delight for the little ones at Elandsvlei

Magriet van der Hoven and a happy new owner of a teddy bear

 Randfontein Publicity Association (RPA) member, Magriet van der Hoven, owner of Elite Needle Craft in Randfontein, decided that she wanted to bring a little joy to needy kids this Christmas.
 She approached Joy Hamann at the RPA, to see who she could help as she wanted to knit teddy bears for the kids. Joy suggested the creche that is run by Carryou Ministry at the Elandsfontein Drop In Centre.
 While Magriet set about making the bears, the RPA decided it would like to help by sponsoring a Christmas party for the children and the care-givers at the Drop In Centre. Another RPA member, Swanepoel Boekhouers, also made a substantial cash donation. Cakes, snacks and party packs for the kids were bought and last week the party was held, much to the delight of the kids.
 Their smiles said it all and there were whoops of joy as they hugged their new teddy bears.
 "We are so grateful to be blessed by such kind and generous people," says Brenda, Naholo, Programme Manager at the Elandsvlei Drop In Centre.

Joy Hamann from the Randfontein Publicity Association and Magriet van der Hoven from Elite Needle Craft with gifts and party packs for the kids.

Joy Hamann, RPA and Peter Dick from Swanepoel Boekhouers