News
MANDELA DAY 2011
Nelson Mandela celebrated his 93rd birthday on Monday, 18 July 2011. A few years ago, he asked all South Africans to spend 67 minutes on his birthday, helping a fellow South African. This has grown into a nation-wide (and now even internationally recognised) event called Mandela Day.
At the Care Centre, we invited people from all over Port Elizabeth to spend their 67 minutes volunteering at the Centre. And what a response we had this year! People arrived in their hundreds and their enthusiasm was palpable in every inch of the Centre! The local Municipality sent mobile caravans from where services were offered to the Missionvale community from the Centre's premises. Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile swopped his suit for a blue overall and spent his 67 minutes planting trees in the garden! It was a magical day!
For the first time, the Centre sold balloons (kindly donated by the Mandela Bay Development Agency) on which people were invited to write their message to Madiba. The balloons were released at the end of the 67 minutes with the crowd joyfully singing happy birthday in English and then in Xhosa.
The memories of Mandela Day 2011 will stay with us for a very long time to come – the children’s faces and excitement at playing on the freshly painted hop scotch lines, seeing businessmen clean windows to a fresh sparkle, the amazement of the school children at hearing a new story, the earthy goodness in the vegetable gardens after some precious tending, Christmas presents lovingly wrapped, the pungent smell of pilchards sandwiches prepared for hungry tummies, the efficient packing of food parcels that will feed thousands, the smell of fresh hand-washed laundry, the clothing parcels packed with care, library books dusted and sorted, patterns cut for future slippers, people carrying bags filled with donations, people queuing for municipal services, bread & soup and an overall feeling of wonder at the Madiba Magic that spread from the Centre into the Missionvale township!
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YOUR CHANCE TO VOTE FOR SR ETHEL!
Sr Ethel has been selected as a Top 3 Finalist in the Health Care-givers category of the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award 2011! She is the only woman from the Eastern Province.
The work of a Women of the Year Award recipient must be significant in terms of creating a better future for South Africans and doing something about the problems the country’s communities face.
The five category winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on 23 July 2011. The dazzling event will be broadcast at 09:30 pm on M-Net on Monday 8 Augusts, with a repeat broadcast on Women’s Day, Tuesday 9 August. The winner in each category will receive R30000 in cash for herself and R100000 towards her programme which aims to create a better future in South Africa.
To vote for Sr Ethel, SMS WOTY and ETHEL NORMOYLE to 32113. Each SMS costs R1. You must be the registered user of the cellphone or have the owner’s permission to use it to vote.
Or vote online at www.womenoftheyear.co.za
Voting closes at 2pm on 22 July 2011.
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FLOODS IN MISSIONVALE
For some, the rain has brought a welcome relief from the terrible drought. For others, it has worsened an already dire situation. The people of Missionvale are now faced with the enormous task of rebuilding their homes after the strong winds and heavy rains destroyed most of the little they had.
The rain has stopped, but the long winter months are still ahead and for most, the real crisis starts now. Some parts of the Missionvale Care Centre are also under water. Despite this, the Care Centre has remained open to the people of Missionvale with the hall being used as a shelter for families whose homes are flooded or have been destroyed. The lack of drainage facilities in the area means it will likely be some time before families can return to whatever is left of their homes.
We at the Missionvale Care Centre are therefore appealing to all people living in Port Elizabeth, to assist us with food and blankets to distribute to those in need. The Care Centre serves people from Missionvale and surrounding areas, and although we realise that it is not the only affected area in the region, it has been the hardest hit.
If you are able to assist, but cannot deliver to the Centre, please call the office on 076 873 6699 and we will arrange to collect from you.
MUSIC FOR MISSIONVALE
Our friends at the New Apostolic Church of the Arcadia Bishop Area, are proud to present another concert in aid of Missionvale Care Centre, to be held on the 12th of June 2011! Last year’s concert was a tremendous success and the quality of music produced was outstanding. This year they promise an even bigger and better mixed choir, a male voice group, a female voice group, a children’s choir AND an orchestra!
The concert will again be held on site in the Missionvale Care Centre community hall and will start at 16:00.
If you are unable to come, why not purchase a few tickets and sponsor a Missionvale Family to attend?!
Tickets are R30 each and can be booked through the Care Centre office on 076 873 6699 or email JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING .
20 April 2011
Today marks exactly 10 years since Sr Ethel received her Honorary Doctorate from the Faculty of Health Science at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University!
Instead of following speech after speech with another, Ethel did it her way! She sang “The Rose” and word from the people who attended that ceremony, is that they will never forget it.
Asking Sr Ethel today she relates the wonderful atmosphere and the amazement of the standing ovation that the people gave her in their credibility of what we can achieve when we all work together.
To this day Missionvale Care Centre is very proud to be so intimately connected with the University.
On the 14th of March 2011, the Springs Golf Course was alive with activity as Missionvale Australia held its first Golf Day Fundraiser.
The day was organised by Ann Beck, founder of Missionvale Australia, and it was a tremendous success! The rain the previous night had no impact on the weather and the golfers were blessed with a beautiful sunny day!
The funds raised come directly to Missionvale Care Centre where it is needed now more than ever. We are so grateful to all who participated in this great day making these funds possible.
This will become an annual event, so keep the 12th of March 2012 open – the venue has already been booked!
Talented rugby player originates from Missionvale
Cecil Afrika is a South African rugby union player currently part of the South African Sevens Team where he plays at Flyhalf. Cecil’s origins lie right here in Missionvale, Port Elizabeth. He went to Missionvale Primary where his talent on the rugby field, obvious to all, resulted in a call to the specialist rugby academy in Harmony, in the Northern Free State. Afrika made his debut for the South African sevens team during the Dubai leg of the 2009 – 10 IRB Sevens World Series.
This picture of him was taken at the Hong Kong Sevens on Saturday. His electric performance sent the crowd into raptures. Light, quick , nimble and with a rugby brain, Cecil captivated the knowledgeable spectators with his speed, nimble side steps and eye for the gap to pile on try after try.
Today he is a great role model for the sports loving children of Missionvale!
If you’d like to read more about Cecil Afrika, click here http://www.rugby365.com/schools/581097.htm
Miss Port Elizabeth celebrates her birthday with us!
Bianca-Ann Harper, The Herald / Specsavers Miss Port Elizabeth 2010 is no stranger to Missionvale. She has been a phenomenal role model, spokesperson and ambassador for Missionvale Care Centre and we are proud to be associated with her!
Today she celebrated her 25 th birthday, and instead of throwing a party for herself, she decided to throw the party of all parties for the children of Missionvale! The day was unforgettable and the children could not believe their eyes when they walked into the community hall decorated with cheerful banners and balloons and tables crunching under the weight of food!
At the door Bianca and a group of friends greeted each child with a party hat, a hot dog, a party blower and a cool drink (generously sponsored by Coca-Cola). Thereafter the children were delighted by Popsi the Clown who performed magic tricks that had the children spell-bound. The children then sang a hearty “happy birthday to you” to Bianca, and left with a party pack and cupcake. They nearly didn’t have enough hands to carry everything!
THANK YOU to Bianca and all the friends and family members who made this day such a huge success. The memory of this special day will be treasured by all of the children for years to come!
Missionvale Benefit Concert
A concert was arranged by the Inner Wheel Club of Middleton, United Kingdom which took place on the 26 th of February 2011.
Students from the Royal Northern College of Music under the direction of Jeffrey Lawton gave a fantastic performance of The Merry Widow. At the end of the performance the Inner Wheel presented Colin and Pam Tunnicliffe with a cheque towards the Play & Learn Centre at Missionvale. Colin and Pam have been long time friends and donors of Missionvale, and have taken specific interest in our Play and Learn Centre for children aged 4 – 5. 
In addition to the money raised through ticket sales, the performers donated their fees to the cause – a complete surprise to all!
This means that the Play & Learn Centre can continue for the fourth consecutive year and just over 30 children will receive quality foundation phase education. Thank you to everyone who contributed – because of you a brighter future waits for these beautiful children!
GET A DOGGY BAG AT THE STAGE DOOR
The Stage Door restaurant at the Phoenix Hotel has been supporting the Missionvale Care Centre for years. For every doggy bag ordered, they will donate R1 to us! The doggy bags are affectionately known as “Sister Ethels” and it is not uncommon to hear locals ask their waiter for “the bill and one Sister Ethel, please!” In January this year, the Stage Door donated an additional R1 for every meal sold! Their food is great value for money and the portions so large that you can’t leave without a “Sister Ethel”!
Pictured is Linda van Oudheusden receiving the cheque from Nick Ofsowitz at the Phoenix Hotel.
Magnetic Storm, a local Sound and Audio-Visual company donated Fifa Fan Festival cups that were left over from the soccer world cup last year.
Today we handed them out to the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children that come in the afternoons. They were thrilled to have such a cup and all insisted on drinking their juice from it!
Thank you to Bianca Harper, our Miss Port Elizabeth and Mr van Eck of Magnetic Storm for making this happen! You have made hundreds of children smile today!
Missionvale Care Centre has been very fortunate to partner up with TOMS, an American shoe company who gives new pairs of shoes to the needy in poor communities around the world. TOMS Shoes is a young company (established in 2005) and has already given over a million pairs of new shoes to various parts of the globe. This is not a once-off promise though; TOMS has agreed to continue sending new shoes to children so they have a replacement pair every 6 months!
For more information on TOMS shoes, visit www.TOMS.com
One example of the impact of the TOMS shoes, is Renaldo’s Story:
Renaldo's New Shoes
“Renaldo came to the Missionvale Care Centre shortly before we received the shipment of TOMS Shoes. Our staff asked him why he wasn’t at school, and he said that the kids at school were teasing him about his old and worn shoes (pictured below). We couldn’t believe he managed to walk in them – the terrain in Missionvale is extremely uneven and there are always rocks and broken glass on the dirt roads. His mother told him to come to the Centre to ask for help.
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Sister Muriel - General Manager of Missionvale Care Centre holds Renaldo's old shoes that he used to wear to school. |
We checked our clothing warehouse, but unfortunately there were no shoes in his size. The only shoes we could find were far too small for his feet. And because he had never owned a new pair of shoes, he did not know his shoe size. He was very disappointed that the shoes did not fit, but the Centre staff encouraged him to stay hopeful.
Once the shipment of TOMS Shoes arrived at our warehouse, one of our volunteers brought a box to the Centre for us to see. We wondered...could Renaldo’s size be here? We sent for him and he came back that same day. He tried on the shoes – and they fit perfectly!
Renaldo was ecstatic and proudly showed them off. The expression on his face was absolutely priceless! None of us will ever forget that day. He practically danced in front of us with excitement! Renaldo returned to school the very next day and his mom tells us that he takes very good care of his pair of TOMS. We heard the first few nights he slept with the new shoes next to him. Every day he comes home, takes them off, wipes off the dust and neatly places them next to his bed for the following day.”
Sr Ethel Honoured by Mayor!
On Monday, 24 January 2011, Sister Ethel was most surprised when the Mayor of Port Elizabeth, Zanoxolo Wayile, walked into the Boardroom at Missionvale Care Centre!
A whole entourage followed – the Editor in Chief of the local newspaper, The Herald (Heather Robertson), the Managing Director of the Boardwalk, Mr Clifford Ngakane, the chairperson of the Boardwalk, Bongie Sowisa and with them they brought an enormous cake to celebrate!
The occasion? Sr Ethel was the recipient of a Certificate of Honour for her passion, dedication, sacrifice and humanitarian effort for the people of Missionvale.
We are all very proud of her!
Attached is a copy of the wording on the Certificate.
VOLKSWAGEN'S FUTURE LEADERS VISIT MISSIONVALE CARE CENTRE
On Friday, 11 February, 30 students forming part of the VW Graduation Programme, visited Missionvale Care Centre to learn about the Centre's activities and to volunteer their time. They split the volunteering into three groups: Nutrition, Clothing and Home Based Care. "There is hope here" wrote Michael Bouwer, one of the students after the visit. We hope to see this dynamic group grow into leaders serving society in the future!
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