Music as Therapy for Orphans

As I am sure you know, I am a South African.

I live in a country that is so unique and yet so diverse. We have eleven official languages with eleven distinct cultures. I live and work amongst the Setswana speaking tribe. One thing about this people group that always amazes me is the sense of rhythm that the children from the village display. They can be walking down the road with nothing but the sound of goats bleating in the background and spontaneously start dancing to an inner beat, an inner sound that they seem to be born with. It's beautiful to watch. Recently I again witnessed this natural born rhythm, this time in the children who attend the Helping Hands preschool.

Marisa Covert is a music therapist by occupation. She has given a year of her life to work with us at Helping Hands. Watching her work with our pre-school children the other day was such a joy. Their little faces could barely contain the smiles that stretched all the way around from ear to ear. The excitement was palpable as, out of a tin, she hauled instruments small enough for their chubby fingers. I watched in amazement as the children sat quietly listening to the beat of the song Marisa played on her guitar. One by one they started playing their castanets, shakers, triangles and other instruments. This was not the clanging of children making a lot of noise. This was a symphony of sound. There it was! That natural rhythm I had witnessed so often before. Three and four year olds that could hear a beat that emanates from deep within their African heart.

These children come from severely disadvantaged homes, some are orphans and most of the others are vulnerable in some way. What a privilege to be able to bring music at a formal level to them. Who knows what seeds of greatness are being planted.

Marisa provides music and music therapy to most of our Helping Hands children's programs. Apart from working at the pre-school she works at our after school Learning Centers as well. She will soon be adding value to our Orphan Intervention Program where we help children deal with grief after losing a loved one. Added to this busy schedule, Helping Hands will be making Marisa's expertise available to two rural schools where she will spend time giving one-on-one therapy to children in need.

With kind regards,

Michelle Tessendorf

Helping to Build Literacy in South Africa

We are currently working on a project that I know will excite you as much as it does me. It is one of those projects that flows naturally out of the work done by Helping Hands In Africa. It is such an excellent example of how offering a helping hand to a community ignites in the people a desire to want to help themselves.

Some time ago, in partnership with La Casa de Cristo Church in Scottsdale Arizona, we started a pre-school and after school learning center in Molelwane village. The children's learning inspired a desire by some of the adults in the community to also want to learn. (Many of the adults are illiterate). Two women from our village church approached the Department of Education to sponsor them to become Adult Basic Education Training (ABET) facilitators in Molelwane. Gladys and Lydia attended training workshops and have received level 1 certification. They have also received a very run down and broken "portable trailer" from the Department of Education from which to run their adult classes. Helping Hands is partnering with these two women to get their little business up and running. We have undertaken to repair the building for them as well as to provide them with tables and chairs. This project has multiple benefits:

• The school that Lydia and Gladys will run is a form of job creation and is their own business. As trained and registered facilitators, the education department pays them a monthly stipend. This stipend will increase as they receive further training and increase their certification level.


• The village of Molelwane now has access to adult education. In a letter I received from Gladys and Lydia, they said, "Our aim is to help the community of this rural area. If they are given basic education and skills, this will help them to alleviate poverty and to uplift their standard of living."


• Adults who can read and write are able to assist their children with homework. They will help their children break the cycle of apathy that leads to poverty. With the example set by Gladys and Lydia, who knows what other innovative projects the people from the village will come up with to help their own community

I am so excited about this project, not only because of the obvious advantages to the village, but because of the ripple effect our work is having in this community. Our vision is to help communities help themselves. We initially planted a seed of hope with a feeding project. This seed has grown into a thriving church, a pre-school, learning center, home based care for the sick, care of orphans and vulnerable children, and a vegetable garden small business - all run by members of the community. Today the adult literacy classes, tomorrow... who knows? It is an exciting adventure in community development.

It does however take partnership from those of us who have something to give. In these tough economic times, it is the poor who suffer the most. I would like to ask each person reading this post to very seriously and prayerfully consider two things.

If you are not a monthly partner, would you please consider becoming one? No amount is ever too small (or too large). Click here to begin helping the children of South Africa.

If you are already a partner, we would like to ask you to consider an automated deduction from your account to ours. This is a new feature we are offering. The more people who sign up to donate this way, the more cost effective it becomes for us. It also saves you the cost of a stamp! Please click here to download the autopay signup form, or you can phone our Phoenix office (480-966-9037) for more details.

With kind regards,
Michelle Tessendorf
http://www.helpinghandsinafrica.org/

Who Does Helping Hands in Africa Help?

I would like to take this time to remind you who Helping Hands serves. Would you take a moment to look into the eyes of these young girls and remember...

Remember that all over Africa there are children being orphaned at a rate that history has never seen before... remember that these children are in their formative years and that they are watching and waiting to see how the world they live in responds to them.

In the villages where Helping Hands serves, hundreds of children are experiencing hope. They are seeing in their village a passionate response to them. They are not forgotten, they are not rejected and they are not alone. Through the assistance and intervention of Helping Hands they see a community who sees them. In their formative years they are learning that although they are poor, although they face many losses and heartaches, the world they live in cares for them. Apart from providing basic needs such as food, Helping Hands has developed programs that are aimed at helping these children grow up to be whole and sound, to know that they do have a place in this world and that this world is eager and happy to give them this place.

It is my joy to serve in this cause. Every person who works and serves in and through Helping Hands is required to passionately remember the children we serve and to embrace this vision with faithful and joyful hearts.

As you remember the children and remember their lives and remember their hope for a future, would you add to your commitments to faithfully care for the children of Africa and their place in our world.

With kind regards,

Michelle Tessendorf

The Zoo Walk - What it Means to HHIA

Helping Hands had its 2nd annual ‘Walk on the Wildside’ fundraising event at the Phoenix Zoo on March 21st to benefit the improverished children of South Africa. The monies are helping feed children that otherwise would have little or nothing to eat. In addition it will help conduct many social and educational programs in the villages where the children live that will ultimately lead to better conditions and restoration of hope where orphan rates are as high at 50-60% and unemployment runs in the 85-95% range. Try to imagine yourself in this type of situation!

Participation in the walk doubled over last year. The event was expanded to include music by the Christian Group ‘What 4’ who entertained the walkers in a post event program. The great thing about having the walk at the Zoo is being able to stop and see all the animals along the way. Most of the animals were out feeding during the walk (8:00 am to 9:00 am). The Zoo is closed to the general public during the walk so it’s a great way to see everything without the crowds!

The 3rd annual walk is already being planned for March 20th of 2010, so mark it on your calendars!

If you would like to get involved with the Zoo Walk or other volunteer opportunities with Helping Hands in Africa just send an e-mail to info@helpinghandsinafrica.org or call us at 480-966-9037 and indicate you would like to become a volunteer.

In His Service
Ron Meister
U.S. Office Director

Postcard From South Africa

My name is Kirsten Matthias. As summer started in the USA, I was privileged to be able to take advantage of an amazing service opportunity. I am a part of a group of students from Arizona State University who have united with Helping Hands in order to minister a VBS program to 20 orphans, poor and vulnerable children from Top Village, South Africa.

Our goal has been simply to love these beautiful children and instill in their hearts just how special they are to the Lord. By interacting and investing in them, we hope that we can become the faces of love, helping them to understand the reality of hope. It breaks my heart to see underprivileged kids surprised by these truths. All week we have been teaching and playing with the group, showing them that they are valuable and worth spending time with.

We are greeted daily with a storm of hugs that melt my heart. During games the children love to get one of our mission group members to be on their team - just to be able to hold hands with these special children is worth being here.

All of my perceptions were flipped with a small incident that took place. My shoe came untied. I had a girl on either side of me, holding my hands. I stopped, and began crouching down to tie my lace when the girl on my right jumped to the ground and tied my shoe as fast as she could. With a warm smile she stood and I thanked her. It is remarkable that these children, who need the most help, are so willing to help others. They literally jump at the opportunity to serve us - yet we came to serve them.

The reality of poverty has now affected my life. I am forever changed by Helping Hands and my experience with the beautiful children in Top Village. I encourage others to organize missions groups. Take advantage of the opportunity to positively affect the poverty stricken families in Africa!

Kealeboga .... Thank you (in Setswana),
Kirsten Matthias

Visit the website: http://www.helpinghandsinafrica.org/

We Have Reached the 1 Million Mark

Helping Hands has served 1.152 million meals to orphans and other vulnerable children.

A vulnerable child is one who lives in an indigent household and has typically lost one parent. The term "indigent" is understood to mean the lack of necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. In South Africa, a poverty line of about US $100 per month per household is regarded as the "ultra poverty line" and is used by the national government to denote an indigent household.

It is estimated that 22 million people in South Africa survive on less than about $20 per month.

The new South African government has struggled, amongst other things, to compete in a global market resulting in huge job losses rather than job creation. Added to that, the effect that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has had on sub-Saharan Africa is devastating. Already poor households lose the little income they have when breadwinners get sick or die. Then there is the extra burden on the extended families as they take in the children left behind by those who have died. Fifteen years after the election of a democratic South African government and Apartheid has ended, and despite gains made by the present government in terms of providing housing, water and electricity to previously disadvantaged people, the poor remain as large a group as ever with their suffering as bad as ever and in some areas perhaps worse.

More than half of South Africa's children (55%) live in the "indigent" category.

Structural unemployment has become chronic with 42% of South Africa's children living in a household where nobody is employed. These children face discrimination, isolation and extreme hardship. They typically do not have access to the resources necessary to grow, be healthy, live in safety, become educated and develop their full potential.

This is why we provide a daily meal to the children in the villages where we serve. This is why we provide free preschools and free learning centers and free grief counseling and free care to the sick. This is why we do what we do. Somebody needs to do something - we believe WE are that "somebody".

Our next goal is by 2013 to have served 2 million meals.

With your continued support, we can certainly do this.

With warm regards,
Michelle Tessendorf
Helping Hands in Africa

How Helping Hands in Africa is Making a Difference

The villages where we serve have a long and very interesting culture. In these villages, the traditional leaders make up the authority and hierarchy. All the villages fall under the authority of one Chief who has similar standing as a King. This Chief appoints a Headman and a deputy for each village. As part of our own internal reviews, Helping Hands interviewed Mr Morgan Monere, the Deputy Headman of one of the villages. Mr Monere is one of the most fascinating people I know. He has the experience and skill of a seasoned village Elder yet his eyes always twinkle in laughter. I am convinced that inside his elderly body a mischievous village boy is trying to get out. I would like to share some of our interview responses with you. The interview was originally done in the Setwana tribal language. This is the translated version.

HHIA: Is the feeding project needed and having an impact in your village?

Mr Monere: Yes, of course. Children of this village used to eat food from the dumping sites and garbage bins in the suburbs but now they come to the Helping Hands Center for food to eat. The parents who cannot put food on the table have hope. They know that their children will have something in their stomach when they go to sleep. You know well that the food price has escalated and it is not easy for parents to buy food for their children.

HHIA: In what way has the Learning Center and Pre-school benefited the village?

Mr Monere: Because the parents do not have to pay for their children to attend, children who wouldn't get the chance to go to a pre-school now have an opportunity to get the best education at the foundation level. It also brings dignity to parents who couldn't pay for a good education for their children. The majority of the village children don't have parents or guardians who are educated to a point where they can help them with their homework. So, at the Learning Center the children are helped with their schoolwork. I have realized that our young people, who could have been thugs or gangsters, have become responsible people in the village because of Helping Hands and the church in the village that they support.

HHIA: Why do you personally participate in the Helping Hands Home Based Care Project?

Mr Monere: It has always been in my heart to help people and as a community leader I was always touched in my heart to see helpless people fading away in pain and I couldn't do anything on my own because of the lack of resources. Now after Helping Hands has come along, I have got the platform to reach out to my people without any obstacles.

HHIA: What do you think of Helping Hands as an organization?

Mr Monere: Helping Hands is here for the people. It helps the people directly. In the village, you cannot miss Helping Hands and Helping Hands will not miss you.

This extract of our interview highlights the importance of us working alongside the traditional leaders of each village. They help us to accomplish what we do. And so do you. Your support and partnership is as valuable as Mr Monere's and the other Elders. For this we thank you.

On another note, thank you to every single person who made our Walk on the Wild Side event such a "roaring" success. It was a wonderful family day of fun at the Zoo and it raised much needed money for our cause.

With warm regards,
Michelle Tessendorf
Helping Hands in Africa

Walk on the Wild Side

This year marked the 2nd annual "Walk on the Wild Side" at the Phoenix Zoo. The turnout was more than double from 2008 and the donations followed suit. Many people worked very hard to put together this successful event and the best part is, so many children and families will benefit from the generosity and support brought about by the volunteers, walkers and founders of this wonderful organization.

The day couldn't have been more perfect - sunshine, cool weather and lots of people there to support the Helping Hands in Africa cause.

Michelle Tessendorf is one of the founders of HHIA (middle) and Ron Meister was one of the major players in getting this event put together (left). Posing for a picture, you can tell everyone was having a great time and enjoying the beautiful day.

Children may have outnumbered adults, and why wouldn't they - kids LOVE the zoo! And considering this event will benefit the children of South Africa, it seemed only fitting.

Breakfast was served to all the walkers after they had finished the walk. While the participants enjoyed their breakfast - they listened to music and mingled while the volunteers passed out information about Helping Hands.

Won't you walk with us next year? Mark your calendars for March 20th, 2010!

Something to Smile About

Photography has been a hobby of mine for as long as I can remember. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that I’ve taken close to 100,000 photos. I know it’s not an exaggeration to say I’ve taken over ten thousand photos of children. Yet, there is one child that I just can’t get out of my mind.

It was a beautiful day in a small village near Mafeking. Children were laughing and playing all around us as we blew bubbles, tossed balls, braided hair or just shared hugs.

I didn’t notice at first. I was too busy trying not to miss a great photo opportunity. But by the third or fourth photo I realized that something about her was different. She never smiled. I don’t mean she wasn’t smiling at the moment. I mean she never smiled.

Up to this point, I remember being struck by just how joyful these children were in the midst what seemed like such difficult circumstances. Never before, and never since, have I experienced children more appreciative…of everything. And their smiles… their smiles could keep you warm inside for days. Yet here was this one little girl who just wouldn’t… or couldn’t smile.

Like many others in her village, she had already suffered the loss of parents, siblings and friends. Like so many others, she had gone without food, water, medical care for longer than you and I can easily imagine. Like so many others, she was suffering.

Michelle Tessendorf, later shared with me that quite a few children in these villages withdraw from the world around them in response to the tragedies they have faced in their young lives. Michelle went on to describe the programs that Helping Hands have in place to help these children to cope with their grief and to adjust to the terrible things that happen in their lives.

Like so many other things that Helping Hands does for the people in these villages… help is needed to sustain the effort. Prayers, contributions of time and talent, donations… all are needed to sustain the great work being done on behalf of these children.

Every child deserves to be fed. Every child deserves to be educated, cared for and loved. Every child should be able to smile. Every child in the villages supported by Helping Hands in Africa has a much greater opportunity for all of this than those who haven’t yet been reached.

For me, this little girl serves as a constant reminder of the importance and urgency of the work that Helping Hands is doing in the villages of South Africa. My hope and my prayer is that we will all do our part to give these children something to smile about.

~Ric Leutwyler

Mission in South Africa August 1-11, 2008

Follow the thirteen members of our South Africa team in words and pictures on their daily blog at our website, as they traveled half a world away (in more ways than one) to Molelwane village.
Their journey began months ago with planning and preparing … but their actual travel took place August 1 – 11. They arrived home safely on August 11th.

While they are there, they will…
Dedicate the church building that La Casa funded
Dedicate the well that provides their own water supply, made possible by the money raised by our High School Sunday School class
Share supplies of hats, gloves, mittens, and mufflers collected by our MOPS moms and Women’s Breakaway Weekend participants
Share school supplies from our preschool
Outfit 40 children with school uniforms, also with money received from La Casa members (in South Africa, you can’t go to school unless you have a uniform)
As you can see from the list above, our whole church community is involved, even those who are staying home! Please continue your involvement by keeping those traveling in your prayers: Ron Meister, Grace Gardner, Pastor Andrew Garman, Diane Garman, Melody Gartrell-Sherman, Laurie Gerlach, Mandy Meister, Noel Olmut, Carol Mathews, Debbie Sanneman, Lindsay Sanneman, Mackenzie Smith, and Leah Swanson; as well as the villagers to whom they will be ministering.

Adopt-a-Village

The Need
The household of faith in Africa is facing a crisis of enormous proportions. The HIV/AIDS infection rate is spiraling out of control. Hard working village pastors serve their communities with dedication under very trying circumstances. All around them, people are sick and dying, children are orphaned and poverty is rife. As the economically active adult population dies, so the church income dwindles. However, the needs in the church rise exponentially. More and more the phenomena, of African villages populated with only elderly women and children, is being seen. These people need food and clothing. They need love and acceptance. Society needs the children to develop into whole adults. The cycle of death needs to be stopped so that the next generation can live.

The Cause
HIV/AIDS is spreading at an alarming rate; Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest infection rate. There are so many factors that contribute to this that it is difficult to summarize the reasons in one or two sentences. Some of the contributing factors are

• A migrant work force
• Traditional roles of men and women
• Myths and ignorance about the disease
  
  The Solution
  The long term solution to the AIDS crisis is a change in behavior of those who are sexually active. This involves changing heart beliefs and people’s mindset. The church in Africa is working hard at promoting life style changes as the ultimate solution. This, however, is very difficult in the face of millions upon millions of dollars being poured into the “safe sex” campaign which promotes freedom of sexual behavior as long as the participants use a condom. This message is not working. Helping Hands encourages the correct use of condoms as part of the solution, but we believe that a change in lifestyle is the long term solution. The infection rate has spiraled out of control and the innocent are reaping the results. The church universally has one of the greatest opportunities in history to make its presence known and its voice heard. It should not only be the rock stars who say and do the most. History should show that it was the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ that stepped in with a sound solution and that is what made all the difference.
  
  The Helping Hands Model
  Helping Hands has developed a model that has proved to be very successful over the past 15 years of operation. We have developed programs in AIDS prevention, AIDS patient care, Orphan Intervention, Foster Care, Poverty Alleviation, Social Grant Access, After School Study Centers and more. Our Rural Pastors Empowerment Program is aimed at training and equipping village churches to duplicate this model in their churches and communities. It takes about two years to fully implement the model after which time the village church is equipped to run the programs themselves and access funds from government and other agencies to sustain it. The outworking of this will be that the widows and orphans are cared for in their community by their community. They will be given the correct information about how not to be infected with HIV, the children will learn their morals and ethics from the Church, thereby adopting healthy life choices and slowing the pace of the infection rate. At the time of Africa’s greatest need, the Church will be its rock of safety.