Amidst negative statistics showing that around 32 000 children are abandoned each year in the Eastern Cape, there are heartening testimonies of ordinary citizens doing extraordinary work in the province. Jonathan and Tracy King, founders of The King’s Children’s Home, are a prime example, taking in as many as 20 […]
Author: Debbie Hemmens
Solidarity sleep-out for the homeless in Hillbrow
[notice]Gateway News volunteer reporter, Debbie Hemmens, spent a night on the streets of Hillbrow, experiencing life as a homeless person. She shares how much it has impacted her view on the impoverished and what we can do to help.[/notice]An overnight sleep-out, aimed at creating awareness for the homeless and destitute, […]
Visionary ‘Life Community Services’ touching young lives in George
[notice]Last month Gateway News Volunteer Reporter Debbie Hemmens was inspired by an innovative youth development programme she discovered in George. In this report she shares her discovery of yet another visionary ministry to the needy in the city.[/notice] George seems to be the place to be — how exciting that […]
Martizburg couple with heart for abandoned babies tackle new project
In 2009 there was a spate of murders in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa Zulu Natal in which mothers killed their unwanted babies. Some of the babies were as old as 3 months when they were murdered and some gruesome methods — such as screwdriver through the head — were used to kill them. One baby survived […]
Giving impoverished SA youth a REAL START in life
I recently spent a few days in George as an observer at a camp that happens once a year at the start of a year-long youth development programme. I came away from the camp bubbling with excitement for the future if we have brilliant programmes like this one for the […]
Discipline in schools – a positive spin
[notice]Debbie Hemmens shares a story from a Johannesburg school which demonstrates that firm discipline can produce positive results. She calls for more education to help people see the value of discipline.[/notice] Recently we have seen many scenes on our screens of discipline gone horribly wrong in our South African schools. […]
Alpha making welcome impact in Gugulethu
I remember running an Alpha course with a group of teenagers many years ago, and being so impressed with how straightforward and basic it was. It really explained what it means to be a Christian in great, simple terms. So, on hearing news from Cape Town that Alpha is being […]
Dealing with your children when Hannah Montana was part of the family
It’s been an interesting few days watching the TV and Facebook with regards to Miley Cyrus at the VMA awards ceremony. She’s been a part of our family for quite a few years now, in that we have seen loads of Hannah Montana episodes, watched her movies, listened to her […]
Cape Town church harnessing volunteer power to serve poor, sick and oppressed
Church-based NGO providing living hope! A few weeks ago I wrote about Madiba Day, and whether 67 minutes of community outreach once a year is enough. I mentioned in the article that some NGO’s experience a negative attitude from some volunteers on this day. There are people who have their […]
Is 67 minutes once a year enough?
[notice]Gateway News Volunteer Reporter Debbie Hemmens reflects on the Mandela Day phenomenon of giving 67 minutes to do good deeds on July 18, the birthday of former President, Nelson Mandela.[/notice] I approached a few people who work in the church offices with me and asked them what they were doing for […]