Miracles happen

Oprah Winfrey opens her academy for disadvantage girls in January 2007 and has interviewed many thousands of girls from the Gauteng region. The Blair Athol School on the Refilwe property submitted several girls for consideration.  The final selection was made in Mid-August.

This is Johannes's story: Johannes lives in a shack in a squatter camp near Refilwe. He has a gardening job. He attends the Refilwe clinic every 2 weeks for TB medication and check ups. He has been very worried because his common law wife drinks, then becomes irresponsible. He was also looking for a school, he can afford, to send his daughter to next year.  He also suspects that he has more serious health concerns.  He arrived at the clinic in Mid-August with life changing news. His daughter has been selected to attend the Oprah Academy next year.

On the Saturday, a grand car had picked them up at their shack, while in transit they could drink cold drinks and watch TV. At the selected venue, they had up market accommodation, organised entertainment and excellent food, "as good as Parliament"! The final interviews were conducted by Oprah and joys of joys, his daughter was selected. On Monday they were transported to Refilwe with more rejoicing, when the school heard the news. Johannes has agreed to additional treatment.  We were able to counsel his wife and she has agreed to be visited at home by Elizabeth our gospel outreach worker.

Please pray for this family.

Dear Noah

My name is Thokozani Hadebe. I am 13 years old. I am a boy, doing Grade 6 at Okhalweni Primary School.

The past 2 years was difficult for me. I lost my mother, she got sick for a few months in 2004 and then she passed away. I was left alone with my sister. I have not seen my father since I was born. When my mother died I was so desperate. I was angry for everything and everyone. I hated nature! I asked myself, "Why did it have to be me? The kids in my neighbourhood are happy with their parents and they are having a good life. Why is life so unfair?"

From there I hated to go to school and I started to bunk the classes. I asked myself what I was going to do at school if I have nothing to eat for the whole day. My sister had nothing to make for supper.

When Noah came into my life I can say that, that is where life began. Noah gave me company. They have exciting programmes, soccer and computers. Now there is no reason for me to bunk school... not ever! I am so happy with Noah. Thank you very much.

Dear Noah

My name is Balungile Mbatha. I am an instructor for Okhlaweni Primary School. I'm teaching computers for 600 learners using 20 computers from January this year. I find that it is too difficult to teach children from our poor communities, because most learners did not know anythinga bout it. Children were scared to even touch a machine that was foreign to them. When I would give them homework, they will return to school the following day without having done anything.

Since Noah had installed computers everything is very easy, because there are 2 instructors that teach computers. My learners enjoy doing computers therefore I thank Noah for making my lessons more enjoyable all the time.

Uthando Luka Noah - Manzana

Hey you brothers and sisters. Let me tell you a story. I am Zamokuhle Kunene. My parents were taken away from me last year. One day I heard a noise. When I listened attentively to that noise I realised that it was Noah's Chariot Wheel. That wheel took me from the land of slavery to the land of promise. From the day I lost my parents I was always sobbing, mourning for my parents but as soon as Noah's chariot came those tears were completely wiped out, and they became the tears of joy.

From Noah's Chariot wheel I receive the parental care I lost last year. I was wondering how will I facw this challenging world, but through Noah I am not afraid anymore because Noah will teach me computers. Soon I will be computer literate and will say goodbye to computer literacy. There is a sparkle in my life. Noah has come to my rescue, my grandmother had no idea of how to do the foster care grant and Noah did a lot to help her. I am now waiting for my application to be processed.

Noah has recultivated the parental love I had lost last year.Now I have people who help me with my homework. I have been sufferring  because my grandmother is old and illiterate.

Here are my last words to Noah, "Blessed is the hand that is given than the one that is taking." Here is the candle from Noah, let us light it and place it where it can be seen by everyone.

I Zamokuhle Kunene has written this story with the help of my educator P.N. Ziqubu

Khayalihle Noah - Bhekuzulu (Vryheid)

Madadeni and Bhekuzulu

Off to school we go

"Bright", a dynamic and passionate volunteer of Bhekuzulu Noah expresses what must have been the brightest day of his life when he found 10 year old Siphamandla  Nkosi hiding in the forests of Vryheid. Siphamandla, when discovered was found to be sorely neglected, cold and lonely. Bright immediately investigated the child's background only to discover that he has been living with his 15 year old brother and an extremely ill aunt. Further it was discovered that Siphamandla did not attend school.

Motivated by a deep sense of compassion and having now grown fond of his new discovery, Bright immediately set out to find Siphamandla a foster parent. Retired nurse and reputable community member Mrs. Grace Sithole jumped at the opportunity to provide a home filled with warmth and love to a boy desperately needing it.

Siphamandla, now well groomed, fed, loved and cared for attends the Bhekuzulu Primary School looking dashing in new and full school attire! Bright, like so many other volunteers of Bhekuzulu Noah, looks back with a keen sense of satisfaction at another life being restored to purpose and destiny!

Not so far away at Madadeni Noah, Vusi Sithole (7) was always found loitering in the streets and was spotted by Madadeni Noah volunteers. When it was found that he was not registered as a Noah child and not attending school, committee members of Madadeni Noah immediately acted. Today, our precious finding has been donated school clothing, a new pair of shoes and is registered at the Madadeni Primary School. His teacher reports that Vusi appears to have come alive by the attention and noursihing meal he receives each day at the Madadeni Primary School where Noah operates from.

Currently an unfunded Ark, the Madadeni Committee, and volunteers once again prove their commitment and passion for the Noah project despite the limitation of resources, by personally financing the provision of meals (sandwiches) for the children of Madadeni Noah.