Homework Club at Soyama in Wells Estate
In addition to the new move, we have also started a homework club at the community center(orphan care center)in the Wells Estate location(township). This is a new change which requires the sponsored children to check-in Monday through Thursday and work on homework which we help with, get some food, practice their numbers/alphabet, and hang out with us. I knew that there is a severe lack of proper education here but I didn't realize how bad it really is until I started working with these kids on a daily basis. I work with Simamkele, a 10 year old boy. He is an amazing athlete and could be a soccer star if he could get onto a team. He can understand most English but cannot speak English. He has never been to school. At 10 years old, He cannot write his own name or even draw a circle or simple shape or line. He is dropped off every day at the community center from another township so he can eat the food from the soup club and have a safe place to be. He has a massive desire to learn but prior to this no one has taken the time to invest in him. He apparently has some learning disabilities and can therefore not go to a government school. His caretakers have tried to get him into a special needs school but no one will take him in. I am happy to say that although we have not found a school for him, we are investing in him and he is learning! He can now trace things well(this is a huge thing)!I also have worked with 4th graders who don't know the alphabet, and most kids from 5-15 yrs do not know how to count/write numbers 1-100. We are making tremendous strides already but have a growing number of kids and not enough volunteers, resources, or space. My patience is constantly tested and I have a ENTIRELY different outlook on teachers… To any teachers who may be reading I say this, "I'm sorry." -I wasn't always the best student and did cause trouble in my early years. You may have not been dealing with the circumstances that we are experiencing but the Lord knows that you did/do not need any extra trouble. My heart breaks continually for these children who are supposed to be at a level 4 or 5 reading level and can't do their homework because they cannot read at any level. Sometimes it is hard to keep hope.
I never fully appreciated how amazing my education really was until I worked with these kids. The whole reason the cycle of poverty continues really does boil down to education. My "thank you Jesus" list just got 20x longer…
On another note, I had our first youth meeting this Monday and am super stoked for our weekly Friday youth group thats start this coming week. Cannot wait to see what Jesus has in store for this community!!
Can YOU help?
If you ever have that feeling in your heart like you could be doing something for someone other than yourself or bigger than yourself, please consider different ways you can help.
1.COME VOLUNTEER!
-a huge thing to do but we really do need people. To make this happen you'll need time and money.
2.Send supplies
-we are ALWAYS in need of supplies: pencils, paper, scissors, markers etc. (it is expensive to send packages so you can also send money and have us buy it here)
3.Donate funding
-Everything we buy for the good of these kids costs something.
4. Sponsor a Child
-Our sponsored children are the only ones who benefit from the extensive depth of care the program provides. There are still thousands of children in need who could benefit but need funding to get on our program.
5.Pray for us!!!!!
-We are constantly under spiritual attack and get worn out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If you feel called to pray for us, we would sure appreciate the support.
If any of you are interested in hearing more stories or more about the One Life sponsorship program, you can email me or log onto http://www.oceansofmercy.com / http://www.onelifechild.org.
