DAY 4 – September 9, 2024
Northwest Impact Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Several pastors from the community came to show their support, including Pastor Victor and Pastor Joe (Papa Joe). We also got to meet the contractor, Jacobus Swartz, who partnered with Orchard: Africa to construct the Impact Center in just 6 months! Pastor Todd Mathison was asked to speak and participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony. What a privilege to be a part of this moment and to see first hand the fruits of our labor. In April 2023 Victory raise over $82,500 to help fund this project.
The new North West Impact Center is built on the Mission House site in the city of Mahikeng. It will serve as a regional hub that equips churches to care for the vulnerable in a sustainable and transformational way. The total space is 1,500 square feet and is divided into a 1) training center, 2) distribution warehouse, and 3) office space.
Impact Center Tour (Regional Headquarters and Training Center)
Visited with preschool children while we set up for afternoon program
Young Mother’s Program – We met with young women who are soon expecting and moms with babies. At the end of the day each was presented with a gift bag filled with items for moms and babies. Also included in their bags was a supply of “sanitary towels” made by a local church sewing group attended by team member, Mel Stager, in Fountain Hills, AZ. They donated over 100 of these reusable cloths made by hand.
While the Young Mother’s Program was happening inside, the after-school feeding program was taking place outside. Over 200 children are fed daily through this program. They were served a plate of “pap” with gravy over it. This is a traditional porridge and a staple food of the Southern African people. Thirty of these students are chosen to be part of the Youth Empowerment Program we will lead over the next 3 days.
In the evening we prepared bag lunches for the Youth Empowerment Program.
