Happy Easter!

Helping Hands ministry at His People Tokai enables congregants to become practically involved in the community through giving and volunteering. We want to bring hope to those in need and see God bring healing and restoration to previously broken lives.This Easter we are doing something special for the kids at Graceland, a project of the Thembalitsha Foundation.

Graceland, a preschool in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch was founded in 1997. It serves neglected or abused children as well as foetal alcohol syndrome children. The kids at the preschool come from families who live on the farms in the surrounding community. Many of their parents struggle with alcoholism passed down from previous generations and the kids are thus vulnerable to neglect and abuse. The vision of Graceland is to provide hope through educating and preparing these kids to begin primary school without any disadvantage. This Easter we are filling shoeboxes with gifts like clothes, toys and Easter eggs for each child at Graceland!

Village of Hope

This month myself and a few volunteers had the opportunity to visit the Village of Hope in Grabouw, a town with a known HIV infection rate of 34%. This centre, on a picturesque farm in the mountains, is a temporary facility for children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS or TB. Here kids are loved and cared for until they can be placed in a safe, loving family environment. The village, also a project of the Thembalitsha Foundation, was pioneered by Maz and Tim Walker. The day we visited marked the 2nd anniversary of the first kids arriving at the centre. See below some pictures of the fun we had with the kids.

thumbprint bees with Adele... Below: Crystal, myself, Kim and Erin with some of the kids. Happy Easter!

As you spend time with friends and family this Easter, may you celebrate in peace knowing that Christ lives. Have a blessed and happy Easter!