Tshega Christian Mission

Project Description

For many children in Tzaneen, education and basic necessities are not a given. Tshega Christian Mission works together with local families and volunteers to create a safe environment where children can learn, grow, and flourish.

What does the day look like:

The children go to school from Monday to Friday. They wake up around 6 AM and get ready for school. School starts at 7:00 AM and lasts until 4:00 PM. After that, they go to the food project where they receive a warm meal and get help with their homework. After eating, fun games are played with the children, and they are supported in dealing with situations they encountered during the day. The parent(s) of these children live in extreme poverty and are often illiterate themselves. Sponsorship supports the children in their upbringing and care, and in their daily needs such as food, education, love, and attention.

Project information:
Tshega Christian Mission was founded in August 2006 by Ellanie van Rooyen and is located in the Limpopo province near the city of Tzaneen. Ellanie worked at a school that was on the verge of closing, and the children would have ended up on the streets. Ellanie then took care of the children and started teaching them under a tree. This resulted in a school called The Lighthouse Academy, which officially opened its doors in 2009. It is now an accredited school, and the foundation also runs several other projects that help the local community. These include a feeding program (of which your sponsored child is a part), helping unskilled women with handicraft courses (Basadi), and a project where they distribute clothing and school uniforms to the poorest children.

The difference between the poor and the rich in South Africa is very large. As a result, children and young people often turn to crime out of boredom and hopelessness, and they often become addicted to drugs. Tshega's goal is to give children the opportunity to go to school and in this way find hope and a purpose for the future. Bringing young people together is a good opportunity to tell them about God and show His love. Therefore, the gospel is central to all the help they provide.

With your support, your sponsored child receives a warm meal every day. Your sponsored child gets help with homework and receives a school uniform. Additionally, there is room for personal attention, and the children play together so that their home situation of poverty can be temporarily forgotten.