We help create safe spaces for children and young people to grow up in the knowledge of God’s love for them.
We seek to support their development by creating practical routes to employment and education as well as grow in their faith.
We create encouraging and supportive contexts for local leaders to take the risk of launching initiatives that increase the wellbeing of young people in their own community
Over ten years ago, an All Nations Intern met a local “Mama” who was supporting a group of vulnerable children find safety and support for their education.
In the following ten years, a partnership between the All Nations community and many local leaders who were seeking the well being of the children and young people of Masiphumelele has developed into “Isithembiso”, in English, Children of Promise.
In the last 7 years, we have partnered in the leadership of Isithembiso we have seen different local leaders run bible studies, homework clubs, and trauma support groups. Everyone who is a part of these smaller initiatives is invited to gather to our “Friday Vibe” celebrations each week. We play games, dance and enter into deep discussions around faith, the bible and the implications in our lives.
Alongside the development of Isithembiso over the years, our hearts were stirred for fresh expressions of Church in this context.
We realised that the New Testament describes communities of people who gather around a love for God, who meet one anothers needs, and invite those from the outside, Church! So, in someways even though we don’t call the Isithembiso family a church, that is what it is…
“There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
- Nelson Mandela
Camp
Every year we gather the children we are impacting through the year in Masiphumelele, and taken them to a campground during their winter break.
It’s 4 days, 101 Kids, 30 Counsellors, Worship, Bible Study, Fun, Games to reveal God’s love for them!
After 7 years of this camp, we are confident we are creating memories and providing an environment that will impact these children and their faith walk for the rest of their lives.
Education
After 7 years of walking alongside the children of Masiphumelele we recognised the unique oppurtunity we had to walk with them alongside their education
In South Africa there is no such a thing as a non-fee paying education. Even in the over-stretched government schools which heavily subside school fees, access to uniforms, transport and extra curricular activities are major barriers to meaningful engagement in the journey of education.
Many times as we walk alongside the children in Isithembiso (children of promise) we recognise a particular opportunity to make a strategic impact on a child’s life through investing in their school fee’s, transport, or extra-curricular opportunities.
Skills
As the children we have supported through the Isithembiso began to finish their high school education, many weren’t able pursue further education or find a job in a country that experiences almost 30% unemployment. We are convinced the young people we have worked with over the past 8 years are full of character and potential.
The work experience, increase in their skills and references we can provide after they work with isithembiso skills can launch them into fulfilling careers in a context of such high unemployment. In the midst of hours of work, conversations and situations arise that facilitate our desire to impart and disciple the ways of Jesus as they transition into adulthood.
