Fundraiser update
New school uniforms
Thanks to all who took part in our Christmas Fundraiser! We raised $3894, which surpassed our goal by 30%. Our children began their new school year at the end of January, looking ready and smart with their new book bags, shoes, and school uniforms. The surplus funds raised will go toward jerseys and athletic shoes for our PCC sports teams (soccer and netball) later in the year. Sports are a great way for our children to develop confidence, burn off energy, and engage in the community. Often on weekends our teams will walk an hour or more to play another team. We love that they are proud to represent their home.
Next steps for Kids
Peter working in the vegetable garden
With a new school year upon us, some of our children are making big transitions. The traditional academic route isn’t the best fit for every child. Most of our children will live a rural village life near extended family after leaving PCC care. For many, having a vocational skill helps them make a healthy transition into adulthood.
Peter is a wonderfully clever and talented young man. For the past two years, he has been the primary caretaker of the greenhouses at PCC. He also helps lead the evening prayer and devotion time, teaching other children about what he is learning and encouraging them to live lives of faith. Later this year, he will begin vocational school at Bethel. Until then, Peter continues to help out around PCC, primarily in the garden.
Our manager, Ntate Hlompho, with Johnny and Joseph.
Johnny attended driving school last year and just received his license. In the area around PCC, a driver’s license is less common and opens up employment opportunities. Johnny hopes to find work driving a taxi bus in the area.
Joseph is excelling in traditional academics. He is a disciplined and diligent student. Despite significant challenges last year (including a teachers’ strike for over half of the school year) Joseph managed to pass his final examinations for high school. He has applied to universities in Lesotho, where he hopes to study business.
Rose
Last year we welcomed “Rose” into our PCC family. In her few short years, she seemed to have experienced a disproportionate amount of the evil humans can inflict upon one another. We chose Rose as her psuedonym in the hope that, like a rose, she would survive extreme conditions and flourish under loving care. Our staff have done an exceptional job of demonstrating love and patience in the difficult moments. And when we note how far Rose has come since she first arrived, they point to God. “He helped us. He heard our prayers. He changes lives.” This year we celebrate that Rose is able to attend school with her peers and behave in a healthy manner. After school, she sits down in the dining room with our house mother to do her homework. The future is bright and this Rose is beginning to bloom.
Visitors
Frank, John, Chief Mokoae, Marina and Afonso
We currently have a team of volunteers from Europe serving at PCC for a month. Long-time friends of PCC John and Marina are joined this trip by Afonso and Frank. They guys are working on maintenance projects, while Marina assists with preschool and Shepherd School.
I (Emily) was able to bring Jane and my mom, Deb, on my normal visit last month. Jane is normally shy around the gaggle of kids. But her old pal Castalia took her under her wing and they had a great time.