New beginnings

In September I'm moving to South Africa to work with Zoe-Life and LAF/WM where I will be coordinating the Zoe-Life teams that volunteer in the community on a 3 month ICS programme. This will include work such as coordinating community project planning and delivery, 1to1 mentoring, helping volunteers to adapt and acclimatise to their new homes and the community as well as co-leading the children's work that is run through LAF and WM. Below I have explained my journey over the last year and why I have made the decision/why the opportunity came about to move to South Africa on a long term basis.

This is a perfect opportunity for me to kick start my career in community/international development and sow into a nation that has been put on my heart. In return comes sacrafices of fiance and financial security due to the unrelative exchange rates in South Africa and the gathered costs that moving overseas bears (visas, living costs, airfares, insurance etc.). I am therefore seeking sponsors and donations, in both one-off and reoccurring contexts (monthly or quarterly basis).

Background

In September 2016 I volunteered on the Tearfund ICS programme in South Africa for 3 months. Tearfund partner with Zoe-Life which is a professional and innovative South African Capacity Building and Development organization, working in the field of Public Health and Social Transformation. They send ICS volunteer teams to 14 different communities across South Africa.

I spent the 3 months in Weenen, which is located in the midst of rural KwaZulu-Natal where we partnered with Wellspring Ministries, who founded Little Apples Foundation (LAF). The town, set on the banks of the Bushmans River, means ‘place of weeping’ - the main issues in Weenen and surrounding townships are lack of access to creditable education, healthcare & opportunities for the Zulu majority community, as well as racial/socio-economic divides and a high presence of spiritual warfare (with the influence of the Shemba and Witchcraft communities).

Little Apples Foundation is an NPO dedicated to Early Childhood Development through a network of playgroups and schools in the Weenen area. They carry the vision to develop, love and care for children in the local community through interactive learning, play and English exposure. Little Apples Foundation have developed a broad curriculum, using a scope of activities to provide effective lessons to aid early childhood development. Little Apples Foundation believe that every direction and style of learning should be celebrated and valued.

Wellspring Ministries/Little Apples Foundation have established a variety of community projects throughout their time. These include; ESL (English Second Language) workshops in 3 local schools, school assemblies, Student Christian Associations in schools, Kingdom Kidz ministry in local townships and during church services, homework and holiday clubs to aid children in their English and personal confidence/comprehension, life skills and faith, Six Bricks workshops in 9 surrounding rural crèches, toy libraries and home visits to households in the townships as well as additional ad hoc projects.

In April I returned to South Africa to continue this work and explore more of the country and visiting more NGO's working in KZN before making the decision to accept the job offer that starts in September 2017.