Inkwenkwezi Crèche in Zandspruit, managed by Adelaide and her daughter Gugu Khumalo , has been a recipient of the Ute Fleischer Donation, managed by Kolping JHB for the past 5 years.

Through this donation, this year all children from the crèche enjoyed a day in the sun on an outing to a water fun park in Magaliesburg.

This day will remain embedded in their minds forever!

16th June - Soweto Meadowlands Youth day

This is what 16th June should be about - Self-Empowerment and Self Esteem! 

Thanks to the St Joseph’s Parish in Meadowlands and with a special blessing from Father Hubert, Kolping Society of JHB was able to present a day’s workshop to help empower the youth of the parish and surrounding community.

Twenty eager young people, ages 9 – 25, participated in a workshop aiming at empowering them as individuals who all have a purpose here on earth and equipping them with tools to help them find out about themselves, as a unique gift from God. 

Our Uniqueness is to be nurtured and appreciated. So often we don’t spend the time to listen to the young ones, to hear their stories, their expectations in life. All too often we send out far too many negative messages and comments to our young ones, and only through workshops like this can one understand and grasp the detrimental consequences of those negative comments. 

All too late we then question later in life as to why my child has a low self-esteem or is considered ‘shy”. It is time to be aware of what comes out of our mouths, the crude comments, the amount of “No’s” and “Don’ts” and not enough encouragement, motivation and positive words. We live in a world of such negativity that we forget to compliment others, to accept compliments and to even smile. When last have you genuinely complimented someone?

We spent a wonderful morning discovering “Who am I?”, “Where do I come from?”, “Who moulded me?”, “What kind of person do I want to be?”, “What is it really that I like and don’t like?”. This may seem a simple exercise, but we live in a world where we try to be someone else, to impress someone else and we forget who we really are. In doing so the youth are influenced by others, by negative behaviour and indulge in drugs and other bad habits just to fit in and to be cool. If they genuinely know themselves, know what is right for them and what they “don’t like”, they will be able to make their own conscious decisions.

When last have you looked into the mirror and looked at your inner self? WHO ARE YOU REALLY? And do you like what you see?Are others trying to convince you to change?  How important are others’ opinions over yours? Whose life are you leading and do you like the life you are leading? 

We finished the day off with giving the youth some simple tools. You too could benefit from this.

1. What can I do today to feel good about myself

2. Watch negative self-talk

3. Focus on what goes well

4. Aim for effort and NOT perfection

5. View mistakes as opportunities and a learning  curve

6. Everybody is good at something

7. Never compare yourself

8. Try new things

9. Acknowledge and accept what you can’t change

10. Set goals – make a plan

11. Take pride in your ideas

12. Accept compliments – had to close their eyes think of the person next to them and then open eyes and give them a compliment.

13. Make a contribution – volunteer

14. Exercise

We hope you too had a wonderful June 16th experience and hope you too will enjoy being YOU…….

Fourways Air Conditioning Supports Orlando Children's Home

The Soweto Emdeni Family of Kolping Johannesburg has taken on the Orlando Children's Home as a project and recently received some wonderful support from the company Fourways Air Conditioning.

Wilhlem Jansen of Fourways Air Conditioning wrote: 

The Projects / Heat Pumps Division of Fourways Airconditioning recently decided to make a difference in someone’s life..

As a team, we had three projects nominated and chose the Orlando Children’s Home in Soweto.
Orlando Children's Home  (http://www.och.co.za/frmHome.aspx) was established in 1940 by the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society. It caters for children who have been abandoned by their parents. In 1977 the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society withdrew its support due to lack of funds. The community of Soweto took it over and prevented it from closing down. Recently, the Kolping Society's Soweto Family chose the Home as one of their projects. Presently the Home looks after 60 Children of ages ranging from a 3-month-old baby to the eldest boy of 23 years.
High on their priority list was personal items such as toothpaste and deodorant etc etc..
We as a team made personalised little packs for each child in a drawstring bag and added some chips and cool drinks. We also purchased some baby items (nappies/ formula etc) as well as some toys.
Recently Mandy, Mike M, Bhekani and I from Fourways Air had the privilege of dropping off the items.
The home is extremely well run and organised and we were given a tour by the director, Miriam. We then met with the kids in their common area. Mike gave a wonderful speech encouraging them to work as a team and always listen to their elders. Each child was called up and their pack handed over. The smiles on the kids were really amazing and the Kolping members and Fourways were thanked wholeheartedly. They then sang for us.
The experience really was not a sad one but rather great to see that there is hope for kids that have been abandoned.
Thank you to all involved in making their day special…!!

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Thanks to all our supporters!   

Kolping JHB, the oldest Kolping family in Africa, recently held a Day of Appreciation for our existing Kolping JHB family.

We held a luncheon followed by coffee and traditional German cake. Some of the members have dedicated over 50 years to Kolping as an NGO. The members enjoyed looking at old photos and catching up with friends and sharing stories.

We wish to thank each and every one of our members for their love for Kolping and willingness to help others.

Treu Kolping

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