It has been a remarkable journey that we have been embarking on with the Youth of Mitchell’s Plain. At times it has it’s challenges but that just inspires us and motivates us to love more.

We have seen tremendous change in some of the young people’s lives that have been attending our HAF Youth programs and our Youth ministry on a Friday night.

The Youth of Mitchell’s Plain is faced with poverty, addictions, gangs, peer pressure and violence. And because of these circumstances we found that they don’t easily allow people into their lives and after being consistent in building relationships with them, they have opened up to us and have allowed us to address and help with some of the issues they face. Read more

In the underprivileged communities of Cape Town, literacy is far more than simply ‘being able to read’. It is the FREEDOM to escape into a book and experience a world of peaceful bedtime stories, whimsical fairytales and jaw-dropping adventures, while the physical world might seem overwhelmingly constricting and oppressing. It is also the freedom to explore a world of truth and enlightenment through the written Word of God.

In some areas of South Africa, literacy rates are less than 10%.  Although state testing claims higher pass rates, the reality is that many children are passed from grade to grade while their actual reading levels have ground to a halt. Read more

This blog was written by a 15 year old legend from Canada who is volunteering with his parents and his two younger brothers at Hillsong Africa Foundation’s projects.

For many years, the song “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica” provided the soundscape of the anti-apartheid movement. It was a rally cry, beckoning humanity to put an end to the atrocities committed during the apartheid era. Interestingly, the isiXhosa translation of this song roughly means “Lord Bless Africa”. He truly has blessed Africa plentifully; the glory of God is made known through its bountiful natural resources, breath-taking topography, and the beauty of its people and their hearts. I love South Africa. It has its issues, no doubt. Crime, xenophobia, gangs and burgeoning poverty continue to be chronic problems here. There is no easy, quick, or overnight solution to any of these issues plaguing this beautiful country. Read more

#READBABYREAD

My daughter started school this year. She is just in the local public school and I have been amazed by the resources available. Her teacher has been teaching Kindy for 20 years, there are computers in the classroom and resources on the walls, but most of all there are books, books in a reading corner, books in the library, books to take home, books to just enjoy reading. That is on top of all the books at home. I cannot imagine her not being able to read and write, it is just not an option for me, but in some places in the world being able read and write is such an advantage and so far out of their grasp. One of these places is Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town. Read more

Our adventure in Mitchell’s Plain started in September 2011 in the Lost City neighbourhood.The community is riddled with gang violence and every kind of injustice that comes from poverty/hopelessness. We went out armed with a vision to see the community come to know the power of Jesus’ transforming love.

We started by loving on people and building relationships, we set up a nutrition centre and still provide meals to over 800 of our friends every Wednesday. Three weeks into our program we found another venue in the Tafelsig neighbourhood. We launched a youth program at this venue. Five months thereafter Pastor Phil, our senior pastor, said he felt we should start church in Mitchell’s Plain. Things have and never will be the same again. We have seen so much change, both in the community as well as in ourselves. For example seeing children that have very little give gladly to a friend with even less taught us to value what we have. Read more

As the world globally celebrates UN Social Justice Day, it is important for us to reflect, as Christians, the church and thus Hillsong Africa Foundation, on our response to social justice. The world often sees the church as being insular and inwardly focused. The church is sometimes seen as only focusing their efforts on charity, rather than true social justice. The difference between social justice and charity is that charity is often focused on dealing with only the fruit of the problem, not the root. This results in handouts – food, clothing and free housing, for which the intention and immediate relief that it provides is good. Social justice, however, is more concerned with dealing with the root causes of these social problems. Read more