Search Results

Join us in thanking the Lord as we commemorate 50 years of youth conferences at KwaSizabantu Mission 19 - 25 JUNE 2024 Thanksgiving service on Sunday, 23 June at 10h00 Transport 069 875 1658 Reception 032 481 5727 MORE INFORMATION : http:/ /www.ksb.org.za/

Cedar International Academy celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday, 11 May, followed by a unique commemorative service on Sunday, 12 May. The festivities on Saturday featured a captivating program led by Cedar Alumni during the evening services. The milestone event was attended by many far and wide to commemorate 30 years of growth and exceptional accomplishments. The founders of Cedar had a global vision. They aimed to nurture young individuals as missionary educators, foster rural school development, and spread the gospel. This vision has resonated across continents, attracting students from Africa, Asia, America, and Europe to Cedar. Many of the graduates have established Bible-based educational institutions in their respective countries, furthering Cedar's mission on a global scale. Cedar has a rich history of training people as missionary teachers. Recognising the necessity for educators who adhere to Biblical teachings worldwide, combined with a very clear calling from God, the late Rev Erlo Stegen and his wife Kay felt led by God to ‘launch into the deep’ in establishing a place of Biblical training and education. They established Cedar Training College (CTC) in January 1994. At the time, it was an off-campus training facility for teachers affiliated with the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU), formerly the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. Over the years, CTC evolved and adapted, eventually changing its name to Cedar College of Education (CCE). In response to evolving governmental regulations, CCE transitioned to Cedar International Academy NPC (Cedar) and obtained registration as a private higher education institution in 2021, marking a significant milestone in its journey of growth and transformation. Website: www.cedar.ac.za (Watch the video to learn more about Cedar International Academy: https://youtu.be/_qvX19Pf2d8?si=qmWBo76MUPYMUuA3 ) NOTE: Information supplied by Devoted magazine, visit: www.devotedmag.co.za

Working together with like-minded people makes a difference and has a bigger impact. As far back as 1995, Radio Khwezi has been working with the communities in which it operates. A community outreach that it regularly supports is the KHULA to Clean up Together campaign of the aQuellé bottled water brand. The award-winning bottled drink aQuellé has taken the lead with this clean-up campaign, and it is impacting neighbourhoods big time. Their soft drink, Khula, is at the root of the campaign. A community clean-up is a project in which everyone can participate to improve the environment. The aQuellé team takes pride in knowing they are helping the community regain a usable space. aQuellé initiated the clean-up campaign in 2020 and regularly collaborates with communities and local authorities to make the world a cleaner place for those who live in it. So far, the aQuellé team has had over sixty successful clean-ups across South Africa, in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and even in Mossel Bay in the Garden Route. They have already teamed up with other communities and will soon join them in cleaning up neglected areas. The team of our sister publication,  Devoted,  accompanied them on an outing and can testify that the fantastic team enjoys helping the community make a difference.  They are paving the way for the rest of the country to follow their clean-up footsteps and join the journey! This is how you clean up a neglected and unclean environment—doing it together! You can also make a difference in your community by doing the same. Team up with local businesses and your local authority and start cleaning up. This will benefit you, your community, and your neighbourhood, and you will contribute to economic development! Visit the aQuellé website to initiate a clean-up in your area. It is our responsibility to help clean up and maintain our environment. Let’s do it! Read the full story in our sister publication, Devoted, Issue 33 online: www.devotedmag.co.za

Dr. Elsa Bosman is a community builder par excellence and a lady with tons of experience. She finished a Ph.D. in Education at age 77 and continued to play a role in building the next generation of leaders. We asked her what the current school situation is regarding discipline and why we should fight for better discipline in schools.   “I love children, and I wanted to make a difference in their lives. In my younger days, women could only become teachers, social workers, nurses, or typists (secretaries), and I chose teaching as a career. I taught in dominantly so-called white schools, and I taught in townships for many years pre-1994. Over the broad spectrum, I have found that children are generally eager to learn. The standard level then was good, and children were disciplined. Sadly, it has changed post-1994.” “Discipline in schools starts with the teacher. Other studies have found that teachers are not interested in teaching as it is a springboard to where they want to be. To give you one example: In one of the schools I researched, I found 72 children in one classroom for one teacher. How can a teacher, under these circumstances, have any control over the children or discipline them?" “It is all about discipline in schools. If you talk to teachers, they complain about the lack of discipline in schools. The complaints vary from corporate punishment that was abolished to children knowing their rights and using it as a weapon against teachers. Parents make it worse as they come into the classrooms and argue with teachers in front of the children. I would say that this is the case in most public schools. The discipline is very bad, and in most cases, the results are chaos in schools, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, and a myriad of other challenges that impact us all.’ “Discipline affects a child’s total development process, and bad behaviour disrupts the entire class. Bad behaviour eventually hurts the rest of the class, the teacher and the school.” Indiscipline in schools has many negative results. This is not only for the learners but also for the health of the educators and the county's economy because learners drop out of school. This hurts their future career possibilities.   Read the full story in our sister publication, Devoted, Issue 33 online: www.devotedmag.co.za

I AWA ( International African Writers Association ) South Africa branch bring reconciliation in Africa and gives a voice to the voiceless from underprivileged circumstances, via poetry. A perfect example of a product of such circumstances,is the following piece of writing, written by Motsiri Mapitsi , a grade 8 learner from Leihwa Secondary School in a rural village of  Limpopo Province in South Africa. He represented himself as such amongst others: "STRENGTH OF AFRICA" In days of old, our forebears roamed the earth. No permits or permission held their worth. Rivers flowed freely, open to explore, they tilled the land with spirits, hearts and more. The fertile soil beneath our feet would yield. Bricks for homes, a testament, our shield. We shaped our world with hands both bold and long. This legacy of strength I’m Africans strong. Lets not forsake our roots, our native land. Protect our fields where the heritage does stand. Cattle graze, our language, mothers dear. Together we're unbreakable, never to fear. For in unity, our power shall endure, our strength as Africans, forever pure."   IAWA South Africa branch in association with award winning Zimbabwean author Kudzai Mhangwa and South African author, publisher, playwriter and national president of Iawa SA Branch, Lendy Cindy Thobejane , is currently hosting its first poetry competition for writers all over Africa. The main objective of this poetry competition is to unite Africans through words. To established and fixate the pride we ought to have in our African literature in its diversity. To promote our talents. To compile a poetry anthology consisting of all the master writing pieces from the various African poets who entered the competition. To strengthen the roots of our heritage as Africans. To address social and emotional challenges by expressing it through poetry. To broaden the mindsets of children and youth regarding a future in writing. To build better bonds by teaching passive means of retaliation and communication through literature. Last but not the least to change the minds of readers in general by teaching them how to fall in love and connect with a piece of writing and see it come to life. Entries was free of charge and done via e-mail. The competition is now in the judging process where over 300 poems was entered, we have shortlisted 40 on the 4th of May 2024. The 40 selected ones will have their poems published in IAWA SA's first Poetry Anthology  entitled " Rise of the unknown African Child " and initiative that requires resources and funding therefore we are humbly asking anyone who's got a love for literature or a love for our children and youth, to come forth and invest in them in whatever way possible as it will be highly appreciated and be put to great use to expand the platform going forward. The main objective of the  competition is to revive the gift of expressing oneself through writing, amongst the children and youth and to unite Africans by giving them a platform to showcase their talent and skills and to take pride therein. Help us to make Africa a united place for those who comes after us. Thank you in advance. For more any enquiries and making of donations please email: iawasabranch@gmail.com or iawawesterncape@gmail.com

Elsa Bosman received a doctorate degree in education at the age of 77. At the time, she held a position at the Cedar International Academy NPC at the KwaSizabantu Mission. Even though she recently retired, she still uses her expertise and knowledge to help where needed, especially at the Doctors for Life International  (DFL) outreaches. This cause is close to her heart. She recently went on another Aid to Africa outreach and has many uplifting stories to share. Elsa has been married for over 52 years to the same man, Danie, but her husband sadly passed away during the pandemic. She is a mother of 4 children and grandmother of 14 grandchildren. Over the years, she has been a ‘mother’ to many learners since she started her teaching career at 25. Elsa got married after starting her career as a teacher, took a break while welcoming her children into the world, and later continued teaching. Her career as an educator lasted over 25 years, and now she is taking it a step further with her Ph.D. “In essence, my research was about relationship-centered strategies for improving discipline in rural secondary schools”, she said. Dr Bosman told us it is called the PALAR approach (Participatory Action Learning and Action Research). “In short, it implies doing research within the community where the problem is experienced. The PALAR process, through collaborative transformation, helps people take responsibility for their lives and influence others to do the same by making their voices heard and recognising indigenous skills and knowledge. It aims to improve conditions and foster critical and collaborative reflection on personal and community experiences.   “Educators such as Wood and Zuber-Skerritt (2013) argue that emancipatory, democratic, and participatory values support PALAR. This, in turn, can lead to openness and respect for different beliefs and the development of shared wisdom to guide the participants in transformation and durable change while breaking down barriers established by power relationships. The researcher and the participants contribute equally to the research relationship, based on respect and trust to bring about change.’   Elsa said, “We are never too old to learn and to study. It is my hope that my studies will be an inspiration to young people to do their best at all times, seek God’s will, and do as He commands them. To this effect, I can only testify how God carried me during the past three years while I was busy with my studies. I was often at a dead end, but after prayer and crying to the Lord for help, dedication and hard work paid off.” Read the full story in our sister publication, Devoted, Issue 33 online: www.devotedmag.co.za

Rise Africans Newspaper together with Devoted Magazine DeVine Publishers  bring you an online training programme to all Risers who ever wanted to know what is happening in online Media publication. JOINING FEE COSTS : ZAR 200,00 | Whatsapp - 0715511531 ONLY 500 Participants are allowed | Everyone is allowed ( inside or outside South Africa) Closing date: 28 June 2024 Duration: 6 Weeks - starting from 02 July 2024 (sessions will be done via whatsapp and email) PROGRAMMES: - Introduction | Writing skills - Articles | News Editing - Ethical Journalism ( SA Press code) - Online News Publishing - Creating Content - Online News Marketing OUTCOMES: - Online media publication - Receive Digital participation Certificate - Bias News - How to avoid plagiarism - Get your articles to be feature in Devoted Magazine and Rise Africans Newspaper More information can be found by email: phutiktp@gmail.com or visit devotemag.co.za

In a world filled with fake news, we stand out from the crowd in our efforts to provide readers with honest and authentic news. We gladly partner with like-minded media outlets, such as our sister publication, Devoted Magazine. Today, the spotlight is on Radio Khwezi in KwaZulu-Natal. The value of community radio lies in the fact that it improves its community’s livelihood. It plays a significant role at a grassroots level for rural development, speaks to its listeners in their language, helps to build a sense of community and, most importantly, informs and uplifts its listeners. Community radio informs its listeners about what is happening globally and provides information that helps them formulate informed opinions. Radio Khwezi is a success story par excellence and lives up to its motto, “Changing lives, giving hope”. Their vision is to “uplift communities and to improve their lives”. As one of South Africa’s most successful and largest rural community radio stations, they broadcast to over 100,000 listeners. The station serves the North Coast and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Khwezi’s content is a unique local flavour of languages, culture, and content, which the listeners will receive well. The content and broadcastings represent high-quality regional, national, and international standards, and the station’s essence is built on Christian values. Khwezi not only provides information but is active in skills development. Mmangaliso Zuma, a young presenter who joined the station late in 2020, is an excellent example of the skills development and knowledge transfer the radio station engages in. She is on air from Monday to Friday between 11:00 and 14:00, and it is clear that she enjoys what she does. She is incredibly passionate about empowering women and enthusiastically explains the station’s efforts to inform and educate women by including exciting topics with great educational value in the programmes. These topics include childcare, recipes, and a range of exciting topics that allow interaction between the presenters, guests, and listeners. Mmangaliso is very good at her job, almost as if she was born with a microphone in her hand! She did not have formal training as a broadcaster –  the station trained her on the job. She says, “I am grateful for the high level of training and assistance I receive from the station to empower me to do what I like to do best – inform and educate my community members.” Radio Khwezi (Morning Star in Zulu) is a non-profit radio station with roots in serving the rural communities in which it operates. It is based at the KwaSizabantu Mission (KSB) and receives tremendous support from the Mission. Read the full story in our sister publication, Devoted, Issue 33 online: www.devotedmag.co.za

Moving on with Rising Stars feature, our aim to expose our African stars stories regardless their poor backgrounds. Rising Star no: 213 is an ambitious youngster who never let anything to distract his dream. Ntando Zwane (16)  is from a small township called Danganya area, Kwa Zulu Natal province in South Africa. He is currently doing Grade 8 at Sidelile High School and love to play soccer with all his heart. “Ngiyabonga ( Thanks ), I started playing soccer at the age of 6 years after being inspired by Themba Zwane ( Mamelodi Sundowns player ) and never looked back from then. Unfortunately, I had to lose my other leg because of snake bite, it was very bad feeling cause my friends were enjoying football while I was there watching outside. My family was there to support me, am so blessed and thankful to have them on myside”, said Ntando. After recovering, Ntando did not hesitate to go back to the field so he can enjoy and forget about the trauma. He joined a local team called Sazi Lions ( Ace Milan Footbll Club ) from Ilfracombe. “My coach and teammates accepted my condition and made it easy for me to have more confidence. I do not feel any difference because they always encourage me”, he added. The talented soccer star’s ambition is playing topflight football in overseas and representing national team. He also wants to be a coach, motivate young kids to not give up in life and look up to someone like him. Rise Africans Newspaper asked his coach, Sazi Mthethwa about Ntando and said: “the boy is a hard worker and very much disciplined, he is willing to learn more although it was hard cause some coaches would not allow him to play. Now the coaches and supporters love him and that makes me happy as a coach. Ntando is an extremely phenomenal and perfect personality. I wish him all the best!”. We are proud to see African child rising to the top!

Rise Africans Newspaper had so much fun with “ Best Reader Award ” winner of the month of March 2024! Rendani Edwell Ndlovu  (38) is one Riser who cannot live without Rise Africans Newspaper, he really loves our content, enjoy the entertainment and education from the newspaper. A talented Gospel musician was born in a village called Siambe in Sibasa, Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province in South Africa. “Life has never been easy, I had to drop out from University of Venda due to lack of finance , I was responsible for my tuition fees by selling music on the streets. I started singing at the age of 7 after getting inspired by the legends such as the late Oleseng Shadrack Shuping and Ntate Kori Moraba”, said Rendani. Rise Africans Newspaper celebrated a massive achievement of reaching over 10,2 million  audience on facebook account during a month of March 2024, history was made, and more people started to follow our content. “I came across Rise Africans Newspaper on Facebook and got inspired by the great work you are doing by promoting the Poets and entire community”, he added. Music industry has changed much, in the late 90’s artists had an option of selling music on the streets to make money but now its hard to keep up with digital platform due to lot of fans being unable to buy a data to stream or download music. “Challenges of self-marketing without a manager is a stress for us musicians. Opportunity to get an airplay or exposure is also another issue. Piracy is still ruining our music. I am not relying only on music, I am self employed specialising with Tiling, Ceiling and Painting to put bread on the table. I make music when I am free”, he said. During his musical journey, Rendani has shared a stage with talented artists such as Dr Winnie Mashaba, Simon Makgathoela, Sione Jerusalem, Tau Diarora and Paul K. He is a well-known musician around Limpopo Province and won several awards. “I have been nominated on the two categories in the Awards called Royal Gospel Music Awards (ROYGMA) and One of the Song nominated was trending strongly on Social media. People must not look down on themselves, you can make it only if you have a focus. It does not matter where you come from. Do not limit yourself”, concluded Rendani. Bookings can be done: Facebook: RENDANI EDWELL NDOU Email address: rendaniedwellndoundou@gmail.com Whatsapp/Call: 0722795156/0672015220

The Doctors for Life International (DFL) volunteer teams’ work is profound, especially during their Aid to Africa  outreaches. They save many lives during these outreaches and positively impact the lives of countless vulnerable patients by restoring their sight and dignity. Stories like this highlight the team’s efforts, especially during hard times. And we think you appreciate success stories so much more when you know the story behind the story, don’t you? Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures in medicine, with a high success rate, allowing the dedicated DFL teams to do successful outreaches that profoundly save and change lives. The DFL health community outreach provides access to medical consultation and healthcare for vulnerable communities without the cost to the patients who are the poorest of the poor. Over the years, the DFL teams have successfully restored vision to countless blind people from vulnerable communities through their Aid to Africa outreach programme. An outreach to Botswana a few years back was a challenge for many reasons, and the fact that it was so successful is no small milestone – the team saw many miracles. Johan Claassen is the project leader who coordinates the logistics for the outreaches to Africa. He said, “People’s reaction after successful cataract surgery is priceless. Their gratitude has no end and reminds us why it is better to give than receive. When their eye pads are removed, some of the women are so happy to be able to see again—they clap their hands in appreciation, and one of them said, ‘God is great!’ “Some of the patients reacted very emotionally. When a woman named Mmasello’s eye pad was removed, she started to cry. She said she cried because she could not see before, ‘But now I can see.’ Her face was beaming when she told us she became blind in one eye about three years ago and then completely blind in both eyes about two years later. She said she waited a long time to be operated on because, although she had been booked for surgery, they (the local hospital) did not have the medicines and materials needed for the operation. “She told us she was once almost bitten by a snake. The snake passed by her, but she could not see it. A child came to her aid and shouted, ‘There is a snake,’ and then the snake was killed. She then said, ‘I, therefore, thank God to be able to see properly now.’ “Mmasello lives a simple life. At home, she used to do piece jobs, as the locals call it. She also collected refuse for an income. Thankfully, her husband and two children seemed to have cared for her while she was blind. Before her husband went to work, he would give her water to bathe, and when he returned, he continued to assist her. She said that she would cry after returning home when she saw her husband’s face, something she could not do for a long time.” Read the full story in our sister publication, Devoted, Issue 33 online: www.devotedmag.co.za

Johan Claassen is the project manager of the Aid to Africa  project. He regularly shares inspiring stories from their outreaches to remote villages. The project is a Doctors For Life International  (DFL) project that is restoring the sight of people from remote villages—one precious soul at a time… Johan said, “One of the women told us during our outreaches that she could not go to the toilet, cook, or go to the hospital alone. And these are just some of the everyday tasks that she struggled with. She only has two children, and when they leave for the day, she has to remain alone at home, unable to do much for herself.” In general, members of vulnerable communities experience greater risk factors and worse access to healthcare. They are dependent on the goodwill of initiatives such as the Aid to Africa programme, which aims to help, uplift, and support these vulnerable communities deprived of healthcare and other services. The team once organized an exceptionally challenging but outstanding, fruitful outreach to Botswana. Botswana has only three government ophthalmologists to care for the country’s needs. There is a great need for assistance and a mounting backlog of blind patients needing cataract surgery. In the past, other countries supported Botswana, but there is currently no support for these patients. “One of our patients, Qumma Tsaa, was blind in one eye,” says Johan Claassen. “He was very excited and so thankful to be able to see again. He said he struggled to perform his duties properly and was eager to return home and work. It was a joy to listen to him speak in his native language as he shared his stories with us in an animated way. He did not know his age, and his ID card merely showed xx/xx/1958. His friend, Tjetjex, also came from Ghanzi, received eye surgery, and translated Qumma’s story into Afrikaans! His birthdate was also unknown to him; his ID showed 01/01/1960. “We took the time to get to know some of the patients. One of the older nurses invited us to share a message with the patients waiting outside to be helped before they started the screening process. Their singing was beautiful and touched our hearts.” Despite all our challenges in South Africa, we still have so much to be thankful for. We have to display more gratitude for what we receive, and we can also contribute to the Aids to Africa outreaches.  Visit their website to learn how. Every small contribution makes a difference. Read the full story in our sister publication, Devoted, Issue 33 online: www.devotedmag.co.za