Siyabathanda

South Africa

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), founded in 1967, has a strong established partnership with Global Ministries. There are 272 congregations with 235,900 members in the South Africa Synod.

The end of apartheid in South Africa came in 1994 and, with a relatively new democracy, South Africa still faces major obstacles to be financially stable after many years of apartheid. The national economic growth has not been strong enough to lower the high unemployment rate. The country has not been able to successfully address the overwhelming poverty and lack of economic empowerment among disadvantaged groups. Women and children are greatly affected.

In addition, the devastating growth of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has further caused South Africa to fall even deeper into crisis. This greatly impacts the quality of ministry and missions the UCCSA churches can provide to the people in their communities. The effort to restore, renew, and revitalize South Africa will require creative ideas, economic alternatives, and program development. The church is being called to respond to the needs of the South African people in new ways.

One of these responses has been the creation of Siyabathanda, a community-based organization in Kwazulu-Natal Province, that has grown into an orphanage for thirty-eight children, many of whom have lost parents to AIDS. Siyabathanda’s children are supplied with food, clothing, and shelter and are taught life skills through activities that facilitate their healthy growth as individuals. Founded in the late 1990s by the Noodsberg Congregational Church (UCCSA), the organization seeks to “improve the quality of life of AIDS orphans and local children.”

At Siyabathanda, there is a dormitory for the children in compliance with standards set by the Department of Social Welfare. Siyabathanda is in need of funding to aid in maintenance of this dormitory, as well as funds to carry out the day-to-day activities of the organization as they expand and plan their vision for the future.

• $15 can help clothe a child at Siyabathanda.
• $20 can provide craft supplies for a project.
• $50 can feed the children and staff for a day.