The Fathers Heart Community Development

Ackermans Commercial Team Joins Us for a Day of Impact in Fisantekraal

As part of their Mandela Day / CSI Initiative, we recently had the privilege of hosting the Ackermans Commercial team for an inspiring and hands-on Open Day at our centre in Fisantekraal.

The day began with a warm welcome from Michael and Jill, who introduced the team to our work, the programs we run, and—most importantly—the why behind what we do. It was an opportunity to share our vision for transformation in the community and the heart behind every initiative.

The Ackermans staff then split into two groups for a meaningful day of service:

Team One stayed on site to engage with some of our youth, parents, and volunteers—getting a first-hand experience of our Online School and the various programs we facilitate through our Afterschools.
Team Two picked up their paintbrushes to help us complete two stunning murals at the centre, bringing a burst of colour and life to our space.

A huge thank you to the Ackermans team for spending far more than just the symbolic 67 minutes with us, and for your generous donation towards our work. Your willingness to get involved, connect, and contribute has left a lasting mark—both on our walls and in our hearts.

We also want to give a special shout-out to Ilje, our talented artist, who designed and prepared the murals so that the Ackermans team could bring them to life with vibrant colour. ❤️

Click here for highlights

Education that opens doors of opportunity

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

Access to quality education across the life course is a central focus of the Sustainable Development Goals; without quality education and supportive services which ensure there are no impediments to learning, children face considerable barriers to employment & growth. Education is also a human right, one that allows a person to access all other human rights. It is a powerful driver of development, and one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace, and stability; it gives people the ability to shape a better future for themselves and their societies.

With the Father's Heart launching the first ever online school in Fisantekraal and celebrating 2 years in existence, we asked some of our students to share their experience. The online school was started for the purpose of giving kids in the community who do not have access to education an online option and specifically aimed at those children who had to leave school due to circumstances out of their control, those who were never given the opportunity to start due to limited space or neglect, those who cannot attend mainstream school due to severe bullying or behavioural issues, and also to provide a safe space for teenage moms where they can continue their schooling whilst pregnant. By bridging this gap in education, we ensure they complete their schooling & reach their full potential, instead of dropping out and becoming dependent on government grants, which is often the case.

Janicka – Grade 12

Think Digital Academy is easy to understand. It’s easy to work home when I’m sick. Online school teaches us how to manage time better and we also have a weekly activity report that the parents can see what their children is doing. I prefer Online school because it’ s less pressure from social interactions and your exam timetable is clear and we also get feedback on marked assessments.

Fya – Grade 10

Ek vind dit beter hiedie jaar as die vorige jaar. Ja dis soms moelik, but ek sal liewer my bes probeer as om staat te maak op ander. Wat ek net geleer het is dat jy werk harder and die werk is meer verstaanbaar. Ek vind die online school baie interersant as voorheen cause ek het baie geleer en ook geleer dat jy moet vra vrae

Azur – Grade 10

My experience of the online school was actually good. I don’t have much to say, but learning wise it is excellent. I personally and honestly feel like sometimes I still need like a teacher or someone to give me work in that way as I can get to start working more faster because without that I get easily distracted.

Whasiela – Grade 10

Ek will vandag praat oor hoe ek voel oor die skool. Die Think Digital het my meer ondervinding gegee oor di skool werk. Ek het ook meer ervaring gekry. By ander skole net ek and nie sulker ervaring gerkry. Ek is ssbaie trots op myself want by die online kry ek baie meer punte as wat ek gedink het ek sal kry. My vakke is ook nie a probleem nie. Die online skool is reg vir my. Ek kry al die nogdie hulp wak ek moet kry.

Music that turns trauma into triumph

Music plays a vital role in the development of the children we serve and has been a part of The Fathers Heart programs since inception.

Music is both powerful and therapeutic in helping them to express their emotions, reduce anxiety, help process trauma, and boost concentration and memory, which is important for growing young minds. It also provides a great environment for social interaction and teamwork, a sense of belonging and self-esteem whilst at the same time allowing us to nurture & develop talents in these children that could potentially be used as a means to generate an income and care for themselves & their families later in life.

We kicked off our new Music Program at the beginning of the year where we offer our youth the opportunity to learn more about music theory, how to play instruments, participate in vocal coaching, being part of their own choir or maybe even a band in the future.

This Mandela Day, we invite you to become a#DoDifferent Activist to raise funds for this vital music program. By just completing 3 small tasks, you will raise R1000 for The Fathers Heart. See the infographic below for more information

How to #doDifferent with The Father’s Heart Community Development (1)

On 18 July - Go to https://different.org/, Become a #doDifferent activist for the first time for The Father’s Heart Community Development's project from 18-31 July 2024. Complete the 3 simple “Become an Activist” challenges,

1. Set up your Activist Page

2. Upload your Profile Pic

3. Share your Activist Page to Social Media

and our project receives R1000 to continue making a difference in the lives of orphan & vulnerable families

BONUS: Complete weekly challenges and Diferent.org will allocate more funds to The Father’s Heart Community Development's project.

Join our 100’s Club

Thank you for your commitment of just R100 (or more) via monthly giving to restore hope and transform futures of the most vulnerable of children. You can complete your membership in the following ways below:

Click to download form below, complete, sign and email back to:partner@thefathersheart.org.za

Option 1: Make a donation via Payfast below:

Option 2: Sign up with a Monthly Debit Order

Download Debit Order Form

100% of the recurring gift will go towards the children we serve. Please complete form, sign and email back to partner@thefathersheart.org.za

Option 3: For International Donors

Make a monthly donation via PayPal

Thank you for joining the club and making a difference!

Impact a life this tax season

To make a contribution to The Father's Heart, you can do so via the following ways below:

Make a donation via Payfast below:

Make a donation via PayPal I Make a donation via Snapscan

To make a direct deposit:

Account Holder: The Fathers Heart Community Development NPC
Bank: First National Bank
Account Number: 62832273073
Branch Code: 210835
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
Reference: Your Name & Contact Number

Please send your payment confirmation, physical address, contact details and request for your Section 18A certificate to partner@thefathersheart.org.za following your donation.

Thank you for making a difference and changing lives!

MusicWorks Holiday Club

We have had so many positive reports from the 50 kids who were able to participate in the 4-day workshop, facilitated by the wonderful, talented team from MusicWorks. The photos and videos speak for themselves; it is clear to see from the kids faces, beaming with joy and overflowing with excitement as they participated and played to the beat of the drums, while dancing their hearts out, that they had a ton of fun.

A huge thank you to Renew Trust who sponsored our Music Themed Holiday Workshop for our kids and to Raymond and his team, and our team for the outstanding holiday club program. A big thanks also to the Rotaract of Bellville, who visited us and blessed the kids with lunch and treats on Wednesday. We appreciate all the support! See you all in the new term!

Putting for a worthy cause

The Father’s Heart Community Development partnered up with Just Property Prosper, as the official beneficiary of their annual corporate charity Golf Day, held on 26th October at the prestigious Durbanville Golf Course. The event was a resounding success, raising over R100 000 for The Fathers Heart critical work with orphans and vulnerable children in the community of Fisantekraal.

The golf day connected golf enthusiasts, renewable energy partners, local businesses, and community members for a day of camaraderie and good golf while enjoying a challenging course, picturesque views and various opportunities to give back to a worthy cause.

Touched by the work and impact of The Fathers Heart, the 3 brothers, Pieter, Johannes and Hendrik van den Berg of Just Property Prosper reached out to the organisation earlier this year to strategize on how they could help raise funds and bring awareness about this critical work through their annual Corporate Golf Day.

A huge thank you to our main sponsor Just Property Prosper and our Hole sponsors; Impower Solar, Kathea Energy, Solar MD & Heyns & Partners for providing financial contributions and prizes to support the event and make it a reality.

The overwhelming support by the local businesses and individuals who rallied to support the cause by participating in the golf day demonstrated the dedication to the charity's mission. A special thank you as well to the following companies who supported by donating prizes, goody bag items, services, welcome drinks etc:

STBB, Jeremy Kilian, Callaway South Africa, Mlima Group, Dreyer Hoffman, Taurus Medical, Devils Peak Brewery, Durbanville Hills, Just Property, Chamonix & Eikehof.

A special thanks to PG Engebrecht who was the MC and auctioneer of the evening, who provided fun entertainment while we handed out incredible prizes to the golfers and offered unique items for auction. A highlight of the auction was a statue donated to The Fathers Heart, by the world renowned, award winning artist Marco Olivier another supporter of their life changing work.

Celebrating beautiful and bold women

Celebrating beautiful & bold women

In August we hosted another blessed and sold-out Women’s Day event spent with incredible, beautiful and bold women! We heard testimonies, shared stories, were encouraged, laughed, ate good food, met new friends, took lots of pics and had loads of fun! The motivational message for the morning by our phenomenal speakers Lucia Dramat & Candice Manuel Embrace Your Curves is to not give up, keep dreaming big, don’t let fear, anxiety & others opinions hold you back from pursuing your purpose & dreams and run a race of endurance. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind”.

The Fathers Heart Community Development would like to thank our title sponsor, Impower Pty Ltd. for their generous support to help us host this event (& even helped with the setup!). And to all our other sponsors listed below who generously gave of either their time, expertise, products or finances to ensure this year’s breakfast was another outstanding top class event, we are very grateful.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Impower Pty Ltd.

Cassia Restaurant On Nitida Wine Farm & their staff

Nitida Wines

Lucia Dramat

Candice - Embrace Your Curves

Rotary Club of Bellville

Function Hiring 4u & CandleHire 4 U

Limitless Events

A&H Professional Make-up Services

Thyme Guesthouse

Meedscreative

Owen Bell Photography

CLF (Christian Literature Fund)

Trisha Herling Hair

Sorbet Group - Durbanville Village Square

Off The Hook

Aaron for the sound

And to all the gorgeous bold & beautiful women who attended, thank you for your support. All of you have made a difference by supporting Orphan and Vulnerable childcare; with your partnership & continued support, collectively we can achieve much and impact many.

If you would like to find out more how you can team up with us to make more impact, then contact info@thefathersheart.org.za

IMPOWERing communities by making a lasting impact

IMPOWER Solar is one of our long-standing strategic partners. We caught up with the CEO, Jay Naidoo to get to know more about who they are and why they choose to support The Father’s Heart.

Q. Tell us a bit about Impower & what drives you and are important to you as a company, and what sets you apart?

At IMPOWER our core mission is to provide businesses & communities with access to affordable, reliable & clean energy. We do this in a personalized, quick & holistically sustainable manner which leads the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future. What drives us is a deep commitment to making a positive impact on our country and Africa at large while addressing the urgent global challenge of energy scarcity. We are a team of young, energetic energy professionals who want to make a mark on the African continent. We are passionate about stepping in as a respondent to the deep and urgent need for energy solutions because of our country's unprecedented energy crisis.

What drives us as a renewable energy company is the opportunity to be a positive force for change in the world. We're passionate about sustainability, dedicated to innovation, and committed to making a lasting impact on our planet. Our unique approach and diverse solutions make us a leader in the renewable energy sector, and we are excited to continue driving the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

Q. What inspired you to support The Fathers Heart?

Our overall motivation to support The Fathers Heart stems from a combination of alignment with our company values, belief in their impact, and a desire to give back to the community. IMPOWER has been inspired to support The Father’s Heart for several reasons. We have always believed in giving back to the community and making a positive impact. Supporting this organisation aligns with our company values and provides both our internal and external stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute to a cause we are all deeply passionate about.

Q. How long have you been supporting this organisation, and what impact do you hope your support will have on the lives of the children this organisation serves?

We have supported the Fathers Heart since its inception, four years ago - "We are deeply committed to supporting this organization in its mission to improve the lives of the children it serves. The impact we hope to achieve through our support is multifaceted: Improved access to education, Enhanced health and well-being, emotional and social development.” In essence, our organization's support is focused on making a profound and lasting difference in the lives of the children served by this organization. We hope that our collaborative efforts will contribute to building a stronger, more resilient, and more hopeful generation that can, in turn, positively impact their communities and society as a whole.

Q. Have you had the opportunity to visit any of the programs or projects this organisation runs? If so, what was your experience like?

Yes, we have been fortunate to visit several of the charity programs and projects run by The Fathers Heart and our experiences have been truly eye-opening and inspiring. During our visits, our team had the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible impact of the programs on the communities and individuals they serve. We were deeply impressed by the dedication and hard work of the organization's staff and volunteers, who are truly making a difference in the lives of those in need.

One of the most memorable experiences was Mandela Day 2022 where we saw the immediate and transformative effects of the charity's work. The sense of hope, gratitude, and empowerment among the beneficiaries were palpable, and it reinforced our belief in the importance of our ongoing support.

Q. In your opinion, what makes this organisation's approach to supporting orphaned and vulnerable children unique or effective?

What makes The Fathers Heart's approach unique and effective is its commitment to a comprehensive and sustainable approach, a focus on education and empowerment, community engagement, transparency, innovation, and rigorous impact measurement. This combination of factors ensures that they are not just providing immediate relief but are truly changing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children for the better while ensuring a long-lasting impact on the lives served.

Q. How do you stay engaged with this organisation and its work, and what other ways do you support its mission beyond financial contributions?

I am a strong advocate for The Fathers Heart and its mission. I use my voice and social media platforms to raise awareness about the issues they address and promote their work. By sharing their stories and successes, I hope to inspire others to support the cause.

I also actively seek opportunities to connect The Fathers Heart with potential partners, donors, and supporters who can help advance their mission. Building relationships and partnerships with like-minded individuals and organisations is crucial for expanding the organisation's reach and impact.

In summary, my engagement with The Fathers Heart goes beyond financial support, and I am actively involved in various aspects of their work. I believe that my time, skills, network, and advocacy are valuable resources that can make a difference and help influence other leaders to also give back in this way.

If you would like to know more about IMPOWER, then visit their website https://impower.solar/

Shining the spotlight on a Bright Partnership

The Brights Partnership is one of The Fathers Heart Community Development’s first major supporter who have invested in our vision. We caught up with Nita Louis, founding director of Brights to share more about why she supports The Fathers Heart.

Q. Tell us a bit about Brights, what is important to you as a company and what sets you apart?

Brights was started in 1971 by my husband and I, just over 53 years in establishment. With it being quite a long time ago we did things a lot differently to what we do now. Having started the business in the middle of a depression, it was more a case of survival and making a living than sustainability. Through the years as our business progressed and things changed, I was drawn more and more closer to what it was God wanted for me, and in 2000 I gave my heart to Jesus and everything changed. For the first time I realised that there is so much more to life and God’s purposes and plans became even clearer for me about Brights needing to be a model in the marketplace. It’s been a process, being positively influenced by various ministries and what it means to be an ambassador and model, and in which ways we can make a difference for the Kingdom as we continue on this journey.

Q. What inspired you to support The Fathers Heart?

When I looked at the organisation’s vision - it was something I always felt that I could connect with and see value in. I didn’t know much about Fisantekraal until I got to know The Fathers Heart. For me, it was just another informal settlement I knew about, but as I learned more about this impoverished community, I made it part of my responsibility to help make a difference in the lives of people that have been pushed aside. As Christians we have an obligation and mandate to help to alleviate and help to transform our society. And with Fisantekraal being right on my doorstep, I felt that this was the mission field that I wanted and needed to take part in. We don’t need to look far; we have opportunities right where God has planted us.

Q. In your opinion, what makes this organisation's approach to supporting orphaned and vulnerable children unique or effective?

With the organisation being called to start something in Fisantekraal, it inspired and moved us. By assisting in long term interventions in developing the community and looking after the orphan and vulnerable, in a way that brings dignity and transformation is unique. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to be involved in a community where there is such a great need. I sometimes wonder where do we start, as the need is so big, coupled with the high unemployment rate, and the community living in poverty, there is much work to be done.

Q. What impact do you hope your support will have on the lives of the children this organisation serves?

I believe the heart of The Fathers Heart is to equip people to transform the lives of the community. We know that the work is a long-term process, but I believe God will continue to work in the hearts of the people and in a few years’ time, we will witness the snowball effect of the good work that has been done in this community.

Q. How do you stay engaged with this organisation and its work, and what other ways do you support their mission beyond financial contributions?

Our engagement is more than transactional, but I have built up a relationship with The Fathers Heart, and we are available for whenever they need us. Even though we are not working on the ground, we are there to support them, financially or spiritually in prayer

Q. Finally, what would you say to someone who is considering supporting this organisation, but is not yet convinced of their impact or effectiveness?

It’s important for us to have opportunities for people to see what is happening in Fisantekraal and I think once that that person gets to see the impact, we can trust that God would touch their hearts to move as well and make it part of their mission.

We are grateful for corporates like Brights who are not only passionate about investing into their staff and clients, but into the lives of those less fortunate. They have made a tangible impact in our critical work, having journeyed with us from the very beginning through finances, prayers, donations in kind. Please support this wonderful company; by supporting them, you are supporting the vulnerable families in Fisantekraal.

Author: tfhadmin