Visitors this month:

Saturday, February 28, 2009

DSCF9147.JPGDuring the month of February we had the privilege of being visited by representatives of Forum Syd, Heidi Huusko, project officer at the Youth Fund and Enos Mwale, financial manager in Lusaka.

On the SOFIA Foundation's side we received the visit of Ida Lofstrom. Ida is now in charge of overseeing the implementation of the programme. Her involvement in the Orphan and Vulnerable Children's Programme (OVC) began when in 2006 she came to South Africa and worked as a volunteer in the programme's early stages of development.

Thank you Forum Syd and SOFIA Foundation for making this grant available to us, and for supporting the Novalis Ubuntu Insitute's mission and programmes.

htc.JPGFebruary was also a busy learning month here at the Institute and as part of the monthly activities, we received the visit of several Healing Touch Teachers and Trainers from the United States.

Leading the outreach programme was Mary Frost, Certified Healing Touch practitioner and trainer. Mary has been traveling to South Africa every year, as part of an outreach programme developed in partnership with The Light Center in Kansas. Their visit, in addition to providing Healing Touch to our Programme Participants, also included a two-weekend intensive training in Healing Touch, Levels 1 and 2 where several of our facilitators and staff participated. One of the sessions included the participation of well known African Sangoma Peter von Maltitz.

Healing Touch is a series of energy-based therapy classes in which students use a variety of hands-on techniques that facilitate energy balance for wholeness within the individual, supporting physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Healing Touch is a complementary (or integrative) energy therapy that can be used in conjunction with traditional therapies. The goal of healing touch is to restore harmony and balance in the human energy system by creating an optimal environment to enable the body's innate tendency for healing to occur. For more information on Healing Touch visit www.healingtouchprogram.com

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A big THANK YOU!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported our Beautiful Schools for Africa Concert. Thank you HA!Man (Francois le Roux) for the out-pouring of passion and talent. Thank you staff, board members, volunteers, and members of our community. Thank you to everyone who donated their time, talent, and gifts. Finally, a big THANK YOU to our sponsors for your donated gifts:

We could not have do it without you!

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Success Story: Ndileka Xameni, An Angel in Langa

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Ndileka Xameni runs the Siyaphambili Orphan Village, one of the recipients of our Orphan and Vulnerable Children's Program (OVC). She has devoted her life to caring for children whose lives have been affected by the scourge of AIDS. The following is a reprint from the January 22nd issue of Drum Magazine.

ndileka.jpgThere's a house in Langa township outside of Cape Town where the joyful sound of children playing almost never ceases. This is the home of Ndileka Xameni. She's called "Nosicelo", which means gift from God. She lives there with her husband, her three children and the 25 AIDS orphans (ages 4 to 18) she has taken into her care. It's a modest house and the children live in cramped quarters, but it's also a place for brightness and hope.

While working in Mitchells's Plain at Lentegeur Hospital as a qualified social worker, Ndileka started delivering letters from AIDS patients in her ward to their children living in Langa. The letters brought comfort to the youngsters but Ndileka wanted to do more. So in 2005 she quit her job, turned her house into a haven and started the Siyaphambili orphanage. "To start with we dug out of our own pockets" says Ndileka, "but today we have assistance through donations."

Apart from running Siyaphambili, Ndileka also runs programmes for 210 children who live with their gogos, provides aftercare for about 60 children, runs a support group for grannies who look after their orphaned grandchildren and facilitates teen-mother support groups. "When the noise gets too much and I want to rest, I run away to friends", she jokes.

Ndileka also loves cooking and is often in the kitchen preparing delicious meals that ensure full stomachs and smiles on innocent faces.

Here at the Novalis Ubuntu Institute we feel both honoured and blessed to be working with Ndileka, and look forward to continuing to support her through our OVC Program.

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The Beautiful Schools for Africa Concert and Silent Auction, Sunday Feb. 15th 2009

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

novalis-staff.jpgFrancois le Roux

Beautiful Schools ProjectHave you bought your ticket yet? Preparations are now under way for our upcoming Beautiful Schools for Africa Concert and Silent Auction next Sunday February 15th at 16H00 here at the Institute's Resource Centre in Wynberg. Tickets are on sale for just R50 each, and can be bought online.

The concert will feature South African performance artist Ha! Man (Francois le Roux) whose music reflects Southern Africa’s roots and his spontaneous approach to playing the cello, combined with other electronic instruments and theatricals. He challenges conventional ideas in both the serious and commercial music environment.

Ticket prices are just R50, and all proceeds from the concert and auction will benefit the Institute’s “Beautiful Schools Programme”, a holistic initiative that employs innovative and creative strategies that will enable the best environment for effective teaching and learning in South African schools.

We are currently soliciting donated items for the auction. Example of items can include Art, Gift Certificates/Vouchers, Antiques, Toys, etc. If you would like to contribute, please contact Gabriel Gonsalves, Concert and Auction Chair at 021-797-1857 or 079-039-9693. Or simply download this form, and fax back to us. All donations are tax deductible!

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