VOH Bulale (Tanzania): Finishing our New Classroom Block!
At VOH Bulale, we are excited to begin the final touches on our newest classroom block. The basic structure went up early this year; however, due to the pandemic, all projects were put on hold temporarily. We’re grateful to be able to start again and get these classrooms ready. We are adding two new classrooms in anticipation of adding more students and an additional grade in January. We will have a preschool class, kindergarten, and grades one through three. Until the block is needed, we will be able to use it for a small library and infirmary. We have started on the final tasks, which include plastering, finishing the ceiling, and hanging windows and doors. This new building will help us continue to grow and serve even more vulnerable children in Bulale come 2021!
VOH Bwiza (Burundi) Update: Thierry’s Amazing Story
Thierry lives in a children’s home at VOH Bwiza. When he was still a baby, Thierry was found in an empty house all alone and crying. He was abandoned by his mother but thankfully a neighbour rescued him and began to care for him. When VOH Bwiza opened in early 2010, this kind and generous lady who rescued him asked for support as she was struggling to continue to provide for his basic needs. We were happy to welcome Thierry into our program. Fast forward and this year Thierry has graduated from a tailoring program! Before he joined the tailoring school, Thierry was showing great interest in sewing. He used to pick up used cloth bags, tear them into pieces, and then sew them into beautiful clothes. We are confident Thierry will be an excellent tailor and will make a difference in the community. God’s plans are always amazing!
VOH Chongwe (Zambia) Update: Discipleship Program
One of our programs at VOH Chongwe, which was pioneered by our Executive Director, is our discipleship program. Through this program, the children are developing a strong understanding of who God is and are strengthening their relationship with Him. The children are reading the Bible and taking part in a variety of activities, including reciting scripture, watching videos, and having group discussions. The kids meet with their groups and once each week they meet with Uncle Serge virtually on Zoom. They especially enjoy having kids from other VOH locations joining together during the zoom visits. We love seeing the kids get excited about the gospel and sharing that excitement with their friends!
VOH Kitwe (Zambia) Update: Health Safety Check-Up
This week at VOH Kitwe, our Director, Everlyn Chitente, visited all our classrooms to ensure children and staff are adhering to all of our health guidelines. During her visits, she emphasized the importance of following all the guidelines all the time. Despite the outside community not always following all protocols, our children are being reminded to continue doing their part and spread the message of health and safety in their communities.
VOH Africa: New Back to School Hope Packs!
Our new Back to School Hope Packs will ensure each student has access to all the things they need for a safe and successful school year!
Each Back to School Hope Pack costs $30 and contains:
- Exercise Books
- Pencils
- Pens
- An Eraser
- A Ruler
- A Pencil Case
- Soap and/or Hand Sanitizer
Support our Work During COVID-19 by Giving Hope Packs!
VOH Luongo (Zambia) Update: Learning About Prayer
Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines we teach our children at VOH Luongo because it nurtures their relationship with Jesus and produces faith that will last a lifetime. This week, the children had a lesson on the Prayer Covenant for Children. We are very thankful that the printing of these Prayer Covenant booklets was sponsored by a member of CLA Church in Langley, BC. In this study, the children are invited to experience prayer and cultivate a better relationship with God. The guide includes 10 themes, including love, grace, and authority. It’s designed with various activities that make learning fun and exciting. We are so grateful the children get to learn prayer this way!
VOH Maramvya (Burundi) Update: COVID-19 Safety
At VOH Maramvya we continue to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. We are continuing to keep our distance from each other and have washing stations for each classroom and high traffic area. Before starting the lessons or any program the staff and the children must wash their hands. We will continue to do all we can to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19.
VOH Mwanza (Tanzania) Update: Drilling a Well
At VOH Mwanza, we recently had a company come and drill a well for the centre. We are grateful to have received funds for the project from ERDO, one of our partners. We have always relied on city water, but as our centre has grown our water needs have increased and we have been paying a lot of money for city water, which sometimes isn’t even reliable. Especially with the pandemic this year, and all the extra precaution and hand-washing, we needed a reliable source of water that was also more affordable. We are so grateful that we were able to move ahead with this project. They drilled down over 80 meters and found over 3000 litres of water per hour! The final steps will be adding a solar pump and water tanks. We know this water supply will be a blessing at our Village.
VOH Zimbabwe Update: Going Shopping!
It was all smiles for the boys and girls at VOH Zimbabwe this past week when the teens and their caregivers went shopping for clothes, shoes, and other items. They were happy to receive new clothes, but the most exciting part was actually doing the shopping for themselves. Due to COVID-19, shops have been closed for months, but now, with new protocols, places have begun opening up again. The older kids shopped for themselves and the caregivers shopped for the younger ones. They loved it a lot and can’t wait for more similar outings. We are so grateful to Rev and Mrs. Norrie who donated to make this special occasion possible!