Despite all the disruptions caused by Covid this year, Iziko Lobomi's Learning Centre performed remarkably well. At the time of publishing this news, 41 Alison Certificates and 14 Diplomas (55 in total) have been issued to students who completed their online courses. The following are some of the topics which were studied:

ALISON 2021 - COURSE TITLES

The Governing Board's End of the Year dinner is always an event that everyone looks forward to with great anticipation. Not only is it a time when everyone can sit back a bit and relax while enjoying some delicious food - cooked by 'someone else' ;-) It is also a time when one can reflect on the past year and all its joys and sorrows. (This year's dinner was sponsored by one of our loyal supporters in the Eastern Cape - thank you!!)

On the joyful side: Iziko Lobomi turned 25 years in October. What a wonderful milestone!

On the sad side: It was the first time in 24 years that we could not enjoy this occasion with our beloved Archbishop Nicholas Ndude and our Vice President, Archbishop Griffiths Mketo's wife, Queenie who both passed away at the beginning of the year.

Now everyone can look forward to their well-deserved break and rest in December. With the dark Covid cloud still hanging over everyone's heads we parted with optimism and faith that the Lord will allow us all to return in 2022 again - healthy and strong, ready to open Iziko Lobomi's doors for another year of service to the Imizamo Yethu community.

The Monday Club has been in existence for more than thirty years already. It started as a group that gathered weekly at the St. Peter Anglican Church for church services. At the same time they were given opportunity to do jobs such as ironing of laundry and garden maintenance for local Hout Bay residents. During their time at St Peter's freshly cooked meals and soup could be enjoyed, made by church members and volunteers. Food parcels were also given out on a regular basis. This group moved over to Iziko Lobomi after its inauguration in 1996.

On the 29th of October 2021 a meeting was held by Mr Loyiso Skoti from Kasi Lucha Academy NPC. This organisation provides an invaluable service by holding awareness sessions with leaders in townships and informal settlements on critical issues that negatively affects the wellbeing of people living in these areas.

The topics covered on this day was: Breast Cancer, Mental Health Awareness, Gender Based Violence and Covid-19. All issues that are extremely relevant and top of mind for many people in our community.

One condition in communities that is often overlooked is the silent,  'invisible' condition, 'Mental Health'. One of the biggest mental health issues is anxiety. Anxiety about the future especially when it comes to a person's health, family and finances. In South Africa more than 40% of employable people are currently without jobs. The stress caused by insufficient finances are extreme for many men and women, especially if you are the breadwinner of your family.

It is estimated that 1 in 6 South Africans are likely to experience common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The sad thing is that only about 10% of these people receive the care they need.

The HBCCA deals with people affected by all of the mentioned issues on a daily basis and provides guidance and try to help as best we can. Often, all that many need are some genuine TLC, a listening, caring ear, a prayer and a loving hug. The three key people who takes responsibility for this are:

From left to right: Marion Franke (our Welfare Worker), Bridgette Mangcu (in our office) and Lesley McCall (our Chairperson).

Praise to the God of all Comfort

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.

When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-4

Everyone in the Western Cape are rejoicing with the majority of our main drink-water supply dams almost full to the brim. One thing is for sure, the days where we can take the availability of fresh-water for granted, is over. Water, especially fresh, clean water has become the most precious resource in the world.

The 2015 - 2018 draught in the Western Cape was a huge eye-opener to all of us and reminded us afresh of how dependant we are of this resource. With a global water crisis in most countries around the world, one realises how privileged we currently are.

Water means life, not just for us personally, but also for the wellbeing of our communities, cities and country.

The following is a quote from the World Health Organisation (WHO):

"Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost countries’ economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction."

"By 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas."

Thank You Lord!

Even with all the disruptions caused by the different Government Lockdown levels, Iziko Lobomi continued to  serve the community of Imizamo Yethu as best we could. This video reflects some of the activities during the winter months...

Iziko Lobomi - Centre of Life!

Denzel Washington: "Feed My Sheep"

In less than six weeks from the date of delivery of the new container, we have been able to give the caretaker and his family access to their newly converted 'residence'.

We were only able to do this because of the timeous and generous donations that we received from our supporters locally and abroad. Our overseas donations came from four different countries (Australia, New Zealand, France and the United States of America)

We were able to complete this upgrade literally a day before the first winter cold front arrived in Cape Town. As a special treat, electric blankets were supplied to all beds (sponsored by a supporter). The gratitude displayed by the family was heartwarming and touching!

Thank you very, very much everyone!

A special thanks goes to Robert McKendrick (Scotty),

(a local carpenter and joiner) for his invaluable

contribution to this upgrade. Scotty installed the

staircase, balcony, new ceilings, kitchen units and

built a single and double bed base for us on

very short notice. Thank you Scotty!

Pre-Upgrade Pics

We reported about the worsening condition of  Archbishop Nicholas Ndude in our December News. Archbishop Ndude succumbed to his illness on the 15th of December 2020.

The news of his death was not unexpected but was received with much sadness. Arch Ndude was one of the Founding Fathers and esteemed Board Member of the HBCCA Executive Management Committee.

The following eulogy was written by Lesley McCall, Chairperson HBCCA:

Nicholas was a beloved and respected member of the community of Imizamo Yethu and will be greatly missed by his family, friends as well as colleagues on the Board of the HBCCA with whom he served for many years. His loyalty and dedication to the wellbeing of Iziko Lobomi, and all that it offered to both the adults and youth of the community, were exemplary.  His wisdom and sage advice will be sorely missed.  Our consolation as fellow believers and followers of Jesus Christ is that we will meet with him again one day.  Our sincere condolences lie with the Ndude family in their loss.

  Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,

for He shields him all day long,

and the one the LORD loves rests between

His shoulders.

Archbishop Griffiths Mketo, Vice-President of the HBCCA, lost his wife unexpectedly on the 15th of December 2020. They both retired from their jobs during 2020 after working on a Private Estate in Hout Bay for almost thirty years.

The following eulogy was written by Lesley McCall, Chairperson HBCCA:

The Executive Management Committee, in one accord, extend our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to Archbishop Griffiths Mketo, Vice-President of the HBCCA, on the untimely loss of his wife, Nocawe Queenrose Mketo who went home to be with Jesus in December 2020.

Our hearts lie with Archbishop Mketo, recently retired in October 2020 who was looking forward to facing his 'golden years' with his beloved wife. Queenie's husband having served on the Board of the HBCCA for almost 30 years proved her to be the epitome of patience and understanding throughout the years our committee convened, sometimes for lengthy hours at a time.  

As a wife, mother and so much more to those that knew her in Imizamo Yethu or who had the privilege to work alongside her, Queenie set a very high standard indeed.  Our thoughts remain with the Mketo family at this time.

 The Lamb at the center of the throne will be

their shepherd;

He will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

 (Revelation 7:17)

The Iziko Learning Centre is going from strength to strength and had their first public information and marketing event. The topic was

'Job Opportunities in Healthcare'

Tebo Backward, the owner of TeboComputers who are responsible for the management and running of the Iziko Learning Centre, opened the event with a summary of what was on offer at the Learning Centre and of the many students that already benefitted from the Learning Centre since it opened at the beginning of 2019.

Tebo's introduction was followed by a talk done by the local Hout Bay Clinic Manager, Landiziwe Mzukwa, on healthcare job opportunities for men and women at Clinics and Hospitals.

Her talk was followed by a presentation done by Learning Centre facilitator, Chumisa Mafalala. She went through all the Healthcare Certificates and Diplomas which could be studied on Alison. All these courses are available free of charge to students at the Learning Centre. The costs of these Certificates and Diplomas are carried in full by Gartner SA who are the sole sponsor of all the Iziko Learning Centre expenses (salaries, computer equipment, rental, etc.)

All attendees were invited at the end of the presentation to come and register as students, to choose their courses and to start with their training.

The event was closed off with drinks and snacks.

Similar events are planned for the course of the year during which different careers will be showcased.

Keynote speaker, Hout Bay Clinic Manager, Landiziwe Mzukwa explains to attendees the opportunities that exist in the health sector and the importance of candidates to prepare themselves academically before applying for vacant healthcare positions.

Two graduates from the Learning Centre showing off their Certificates and giving feedback of their studies they have done at the Centre this year.

Tebo and his two staff members at Incredible Connection after purchasing two new desktops (sponsored by Gartner SA) for the Learning Centre. This will now bring the total of desktops in the Learning Centre up to eight.

It was exactly a year on the 26th of March 2021 when the first 21-day nationwide lockdown in South Africa started. It is now one year later with more than 52,000 Covid-related deaths and still the end is not in sight. Everyone are anxiously watching the number of infections to see if we will also follow the trend in the rest of the world namely to also go through a third wave.

After the announcement of our President at the end of February 2021 that the country will move to Level 1, things started to slowly come back to normal at Iziko Lobomi again. More and more organisations and churches are booking the hall again for meetings and services. Strict Covid protocols are still followed and everyone using the facilities are doing their best to adhere to them.

One things everyone realises now, a year later, is that we need to be patient, learn to adapt and make the best of the current situation. There are no quick fixes and it will take a long time before some normality of the past will return. We are in the same boat as everyone else in the world and with perseverance, dedication and team-effort, together we will eventually overcome this devastating pandemic.

A Community Upliftment Project which we started as far back as 2017 has been brought to completion during March 21. Only funds specifically donated for HBCCA Community Upliftment Projects have been used for this project. This was one of our most ambitious Projects yet and the end result speaks for itself!

The difference it is making to this area is unimaginable. Very little developments of this nature is done in Imizamo Yethu by the Council who has been requested for help with this project on several occasions. Budget constraints made it unfortunately not possible for them to contribute towards this project.

We are already receiving very positive feedback from residents on how they appreciate and value the work we have done and the HBCCA is proud to be associated with this upgrade.

It was a big day for the Caretaker Nicholas, and his wife Zandile, when their son, Asikhunge Lennox Pere, attended his first day in Grade 1 on the 24th of February 2021. He managed to get in at the local Moravian Primary School, walking distance form Iziko Lobomi.

He is little boy with lots of potential and we are all wishing him a bright future!