This month was unique for my team. Instead of working with one contact and one ministry the whole month, we were asked to do Unsung Heroes in Durban, South Africa. Unsung Heroes (UH) is a program the World Race has which looks for new contacts and ministries for future World Race teams to work with. These ministries are doing great things for the Kingdom of God, and we want to let others know it!
One ministry opportunity we found this month is an organization called Orphan Aid. Orphan Aid was founded some years ago by a woman who has since passed away. Her vision for helping orphans and people affected by HIV/AIDS is being carried on by two men named Maxwell and Elias.
Maxwell and Elias and their wives, as well as some part-time volunteers, spend 4-5 days a week in an area called Hillcrest, in the famous “Valley of a Thousand Hills.” This area is known for being a popular tourist attraction, but is also unfortunately home to hundreds of victims of poverty, poor education, and poor health. There are many HIV/AIDS positive people here, and many children left orphaned or uncared for by their parents as a result.
Orphan Aid is not an orphanage. They do not house children in need of care. Instead, they provide support to the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends who have already opened up their homes to the orphaned children in this area but still need help to make ends meet. Orphan Aid gives out food bundles to many families each week, as well as donated clothes and other items. Currently they give out 160 bags of food each month. They provide school uniforms for those without them, and try to find scholarships for families who can’t afford to send the orphans they care for to school. Most of the families I met who Orphan Aid assists are living with 8-10 family members in small, one-room huts made of clay and sticks, with little to no access to electricity or plumbing.
Maxwell and Elias have also sought opportunities to share the Gospel with the people in this area. Superstition, cults, and ancestor worship are the most popular religious beliefs in the area. Upon request from those who have accepted Christ since they began working there, they now host a church service on site once a week. They also run recreational activities, Bible club, and other fun activities and programs for the kids, and sometimes provide help with their schooling.
The next step Maxwell and Elias would like to take to help support this community is to begin income-generating projects for the caregivers of these children. They hope to build a garden which can be tended by the caregivers (after some training) and the food grown can either be sold or eaten. They also have the beginnings of a sewing program. This would entail training women to learn a new skill and giving them an opportunity to earn a small extra income for their families.
After meeting Maxwell and Elias and going into this area with them, I have seen with my own eyes the great need for this ministry and its volunteers in this area. They are making a big difference in this community and sharing the hope of Jesus. If you’d like to know more about this organization, visit their website at: http://www.orphanaid.co.za/
