Dear Friends

Building:

We have many exciting things planned for this coming year!  Next week the building material for the classrooms at Berakah Education Centre and the Viva Village, will be delivered.  Donated material organised by the Building Economics Faculty of the University of Pretoria.  We are looking forward to welcoming the students and Cornerstone Group, doing the project management for the building process, back on site.  We trust that the classrooms will be finished by winter and then we will move on to the Community Hall, Play Ground and Bakery.

Imagine 2010:

We also have secured a venue for our career guidance expo for underprivileged children.  This expo will be called "Imagine 2010" and we trust that we will get as many respresentatives from industries, the private and public sectors involved, to show children living in informal settlements, the possibilities there are for their future.  We need sponsors for this event and also call on ALL companies, businesses, Gov. departments and ANY employer - to come and exhibit.  We want to help the youth IMAGINE what they can be - and show them what it would take to make those dreams come true! 

Soccer for Girls:

We want to establish soccer training for girls and build up a Girls Soccer team in addition to offering sport training for boys and girls.

Business Development Centre:

At the Viva Village we are in the process of establishing a Business Development Centre.  Chicken hatchery and egg laying hall, Fishery, Market Hall, Computer Training & Internet Access facility, Clothing Factory and Crafts Hall, are only some of the business development that we are establishing.  The work on the chicken hatchery has already begun. Building materials and funding will be needed for all of these projects. 

Day Care at Viva:

As a service to the community and for the development of pre-school children, we have opened a Day Care Centre called Viva Kids, at the Viva Village as well.  With a safe facility to leave their children, mothers in the informal settlement have the opportunity to go to the city to work.  In addition, we are making sure that the little ones are educated and cared for - as we do at the Berakah Education Centre about 5km from the Viva Village. 

Resident Orphans:

At Viva, our first OVC family moved in, in December and as funding becomes available, we are hoping to have place for up to 10 wooden houses, where Orphans and Vulnerable Children can be cared for. 

Family to Family Virtual Adoption:

Please consider a virtual adoption of one needy family.  We have over 100 families, and could double that number every month if we had the funding.  Our service concept and philosphy of care is simple and easy to duplicate.  There are many volunteers available who can be trained as Community Care Workers who can join our ladies in weekly visits, taking food parcels and giving quality care and support.

God bless and thank you for your continued support!

PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FAMILY-TO-FAMILY VIRTUAL ADOPTION.  

Meleney Kriel

CEO Berakah Educational Foundation