It is now several years since Hope Now handed over the various ministries in Cape Town into local hands. However, Hope Now has maintained responsibility for some of the former residents of Rainbow House. Margaret Ferguson, who moved to South Africa from Lyndhurst, has, with a small band of trustees undertaken the oversight of these young men and women. Here she is able to give some insight into their challenges and achievements.
FRAGOSA FAMILY They continue to live in substandard, overcrowded accommodation by Western standards but at least they are somehow managing the rent – a bedroom for the boys and one for the girls, a poor kitchen cum shower room with a separate toilet, no sitting room. However they remain cheerful and focused on their studies. Hopefully in 2011 they will all be in fulltime education; three in tertiary education and one at school. It will be a significant change for them as they had become very dependent on Rosaria, the eldest, in practical terms and I have had a serious and definitive talk with them all about shouldering their own responsibilities and sharing the home chores properly, as part of the conditions for their funding. To be fair, in the past, Rosaria allowed herself to be something of a ‘doormat’ but after I had spoken to her, she took action to sort them out. They all laughed and said that when they gained their independence, they would invite me to their weddings - their way of saying’ we appreciate what you are doing’. There is talk from some of them about possibly having a better future in Angola once they have qualifications; this is understandable given what we see happening in South Africa
Dominique He has done very well in his Electrical Engineering Diploma gaining17 distinctions out of 21 modules. He is currently doing his practical year in industry part time with his practical modules from the University. He is unpaid as with refugee status, corporate firms would not employ him. He saw the Head of Department and has been offered a place at the University of Cape Town (UCT) to study for a 4 year Electrical Engineering degree in February 2011 – that is a superior qualification at an internationally well accredited University. Funding is the problem. It costs twice as much at UCT. He is currently applying to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for a scholarship. Through her work, Simone, a fellow trustee, has a contact who is researching whether he might get a business scholarship from Angola that would be tied to a job there on his return. Staff at UCT. have expressed a strong wish for him to study there.
Walter Walter is currently hoping to study for a Certificate in Sound Engineering at a private College, but that may be outside of our ability to pay and work in that field is very competitive. However, Walter has been told the full picture so now must decide what he is going to do. He is the practical chap in the family; give him a computer, TV or microwave and he gets it working for you!!
Rosaria She really seems to be stepping out into a future for herself. We expect her to start at Cape Town College in 2011 to study for a Certificate in Educare which she wants to upgrade to a Diploma. That would mean that she could run her own pre-school or manage one.
Alexandra She continues to work hard and whenever necessary takes extra classes to help with weaker subjects (sometimes the teacher’s mistake not the class!), though I can say that she consistently gains marks that are significantly above the class average. I have been enquiring from the school concerning her chances of a matric exemption; that gives her the right to a place to study for a degree. Hotel Management is Alexandra’s interest. Her consistent results really are amazing considering that nearly 2 years ago, she struggled to pass her Year 9 and not repeat it and we wanted her to go for a vocational rather than a school matric. We were extremely concerned when she chose to remain in formal schooling but she has certainly ‘pulled the stops out’ to prove us wrong!
ANGELIQUE She is very mature and continues to do well studying ‘Development Studies (in the African context)’. She recently had the results of her second semester of her 1 year Honours degree. We get on well and it was great to see that in the essay module where she had to write 3 essays based on ‘Social Problems and Development’, all our discussions together meant that she got 79% as I tried to show her the application of the theories she learnt in practical terms and what is happening on the ground; it has given her confidence to develop her ideas and express them confidently. The week of the exam, I took her to a very participative workshop run by an American professor on ‘Democracy and its Values’ which he did in terms of South Africa. My theories about accountability came up and I led a table. She was so excited that she now knew clearly what she would be doing for the third essay!! The Lord is amazing that he has given Angelique and I a common interest in this subject.
She hopes to be offered a full scholarship to study for her Masters degree in the same subject. She needs to get an overall average of 70% for exams and assignments and the Department of Government is hopeful that she will make it. I have also recommended that she look at UCT with its international accreditation, if she could be offered a full scholarship.
I spoke at my church with Angelique with me and said that the key thing to her is that she will never doubt that the Lord will find a way for her – she has had some horrific situations in which to live and being held up ay gunpoint which left trauma just as she sat exams but He always provides a way out. She has been living in a university room since last October and is very happy there.
Who knows – only God - whether 2 of our protégés will be at UCT next year! Please pray that the Lord opens the doors for them all to be equipped to the best of their ability to make their way.
Many of you will know that we also work in South Africa, although much smaller than our Ukraine work several young people have been given the opportunity of a new life with education paid for by Hope Now supporters.
01.02.2012 Pray for Alla, Lena, Ksenya and the team presently working in Calcutta for another two weeks with Tear Fund projects
02.02.2012 Pray that the Mission Fund, which undergirds all that is done both here and in Ukraine, will have the finances to meet all our obligations
03.02.2012 Pray for all the older people that came to our Christmas party in Cherkiassy, that the Lord will bless them whatever their situation or background
04.02.2012 Pray for those who had a well installed last year, that as they share their water they will get opportunities to share their faith also
05.02.2012 Pray for all those who are attending the Bible School that they can give adequate time to studying, working and being with their families
06.02.2012 For all the foster parents of children supported by Hope Now, that they will have patience as they have to deal with problems that occur from time to time
07.02.2012 Our auditors visit the Southampton offices today to audit our accounts – pray that all will be in order as figures are checked
08.02.2012 Give thanks for all the volunteers that come into the office and give of their time so sacrificially, doing jobs at times without even being asked
09.02.2012 Pray for Frank and Lin as they plan for the summer at Kompas Park, and visit churches to speak about the varying areas of service possible
10.02.2012 Pray for Misha and all the staff at the Ukraine office as they consider all the requests from those asking for help
11.02.2012 Pray that all the plans for the Annual Weekend Away next month will come together well, and that people will register early while rooms are still available
12.02.2012 Pray for Alla Kostyunina, Director of Kompas Park, that she will be given wisdom in her decisions and management of the Park
13.02.2012 Give thanks that the young people in South Africa are doing well with their education, and pray for wisdom for Margaret Ferguson as she guides and directs them
14.02.2012 On this St Valentine’s Day, pray for the students we support who are in relationships, that they will be sensible and keep up their studies
15.02.2012 Pray for David and Valerie Reddaway as they oversee the Bible School, and the Church planting and twinning programme
16.02.2012 Pray for Jon as he attends a Men Meet meeting in Milford on Sea this evening
17.02.2012 Pray for Jon and Ali as they travel to Buckinghamshire to attend the Vetinerary Christian Conference this weekend
18.02.2012 Pray for Maria Shevchuki of Kuchkivka village as she celebrates her 86th birthday today
19.02.2012 Pray for the Directors and Staff of Orphanages we are involved with, that they will look after their children with love and dedication
20.02.2012 Pray for the young girls in Swindon House, and boys in Cornah House as they learn new skills which will prepare them for their futures
21.02.2012 Pray for Jon in his many responsibilities, that he will have wisdom in each decision that he has to make
22.02.2012 Pray for Lidia Savelieva and her vision of a sheltered home for older people to be realised, and pray for finances to come in for this project
23.02.2012 For Larisa Vovk in her work of overseeing the work being done with children in the orphanages and cottage homes
24.02.2012 Pray for Jon and Ali as they travel to Carlisle for the Northern Vet’s Christian Conference
25.02.2012 Pray for Cyndee and Darrell Knight and the work they do in the American Office for Kompas Park
26.02.2012 Pray for the Food Programme in Ukraine, especially through this winter time, that all those in need will receive help and no-one will be overlooked
27.02.2012 Pray for Vitaly and Ludmila Sidenko in their work with the African Students at 2nd Baptist Church, and Ludmila’s work with the deaf community at the same church
28.02.2012 Pray that we may be able to assemble a team of dentists and nurses to treat the children in the internats
29.02.2012 Give thanks for all our supporters who pray regularly for the work of Hope Now, and give sacrificially month upon month – pray the Lord will bless them as they bless the people of Ukraine
