121@VMA Update, October, 2006

New Team Members
This last month has seen a lot of changes and challenges. For one, our team has expanded, and with that the organization is becoming progressively more structured. Whereas before we have been working on quite an informal, from home, over-the-phone-and-email basis, we now have a team meeting three times weekly to run the administrative and training side of 121. This has meant that we have been able to up the level of a lot of ‘organizational’ type things (fundraising, marketing, etc).

Pray that we will work well together in a team, and become more and more the kinds of people that God can use to impact the lives of young people.

Training in Soshanguve
In terms of training, we have been going through to Soshanguve every Wednesday to train local volunteers to run our life skills programs in the schools there next year. It has been great interacting with these twelve-odd young adults, discussing some challenging issues as we explore what Jesus is asking from us in the context of impacting the lives of young people.

Pray for these volunteers, that they will grow in understanding of what is expected of them in terms of working with 121, and especially that they will become a strong team, committed to changing lives for Jesus.

Constructive Detention
We’ve still been running our detention program at Pretoria North High and are still very excited about the impact it’s having on learners. Facilitators, working in small groups, have had the opportunity to really speak into lives, as learners have opened up and shared their struggles. We have been surprised at how much learners have enjoyed these two-hour sessions, and the very positive feedback we have received from the responsible member of staff from the school side as well.

Pray for the facilitators, that they will have wisdom and compassion when responding to their small group. Pray also for the learners, that the seeds that have been planted will take fruit.

Breakfast
Early in the month, we held a breakfast to inform people about what we’ve been up to and raise awareness and support for what we are doing. We were encouraged by the positive atmosphere and the opportunity to testify to what God has been doing in and through 121.

Please continue to pray for our finances, and especially that we will never need to hold back in any aspect of our ministry because of financial constraints.

Thank you to everyone who prays and supports us. We realize more and more how dependent we are on the greater team of people, who although not necessarily directly involved in our work, nevertheless play a pivotal role in holding us accountable, keeping us motivated and encouraged, and most importantly, engage in the important work of prayer on our behalf.

Updates on 121 Activities, September, 2006

The past few months have been busy ones at 121, with training events, activity around the Constructive Detention Program (CDP), changes to the 121 team, growth around Project Soshanguve, and networking with potential partners.

Training Events
On the 29th of August we held our first training event for all volunteers involved with CDP. We were excited to have a team of twelve people who are enthusiastic and committed to getting involved with us. We spent the afternoon looking at how to facilitate a small group and discussing the challenges of working with young people.

Two of our new volunteers, Hope and William, joined Cori at a Proposal Writing workshop held by another NGO in Pretoria. This was really productive in helping us put together a good proposal for securing funds.

Constructive Detention Program
The CDP has been coming along well these past two months. We were involved in Waterkloof and Garsfontein high schools in Pretoria East and Pretoria North high. Hettie Orffer was running the detention sessions during August, but has now left our team to start her own project, and has taken Waterkloof with her. We really wish her all the best and thank her for her contribution to 121.

For September, we used material developed by Cori Wielenga which explored some of the deeper questions in life. It was great to see the teens responding to it in their small groups, as they engaged in fairly intense dialogue with our volunteers.

We also made use of Rene Jobse’s great MoneySkills boardgame which challenges learners in the area of money and value.

Project Soshanguve
The last few months have been focusing on setting things up here to start running a life skills program in the schools from January next year. We are working with Hope, who is from that area and has extensive skills and experience in working with young people.

At the moment, we’re developing, preparing and training a team of volunteers to carry the program in the schools in Soshanguve.

Networking
Ian, Lizette and Cori have been hard at work meeting and networking with others involved in youth development and social upliftment projects. We have been excited about the possibilities of working with Scripture Union, Sonlife and Nieu Communities. We are also praying about the way ahead around the possibilities of starting an adult education centre.