LIV Lukhanyiso has had an exciting six months. We have seen momentum picking up and with that more support for our work and progress in our endeavour to build a village in Grahamstown.
Lara Kruiskamp and Nomonde Ndlangisa (LIV Lukhanyiso Leadership Team) at Fragrance in Port Elizab
We have had many opportunities to share the LIV Vision across the Eastern Cape and other parts of the country. The most interesting of these opportunities have been at ladies conferences in the Eastern Cape. The first was in Grahamstown, organised with LIV Lukhanyiso. LIV to Thrive was the first conference of its kind in Grahamstown and we had about 120 women come to celebrate Jesus and to hear about LIV Lukhanyiso. It was a successful and well supported event, raising over R2700 for LIV. We also had the opportunity to share the vision at Fragrance, a well-established ladies conference in Port Elizabeth hosted by The Store House Church. There were over 400 women in attendance, they raised over R10 000 for LIV Lukhanyiso and we made numerous contacts that have since led to more support for our vision.
July was filled with excitement for us as our first artists impression of our village was completed. It is so amazing to be able to visualise our village. It makes it all the more real and we can’t wait to break ground and start building.
The proposed lay-out for LIV Lukhanyiso in Grahamstown.
One of our biggest highlights of the last six months was getting support from one of the stalwarts of the Grahamstown business community. The GBS bank, one of the oldest banks in South Africa, contributed R200 000 to see the vision of LIV Lukhanyiso become a reality. Without this contribution, much of our work of 2019 would not have been possible.
This support opened up doors for us in the Grahamstown community and we were able to host our first information evening with nearly 100 residence in attendance. This was yet another opportunity to share the vision and invite others to join us as we bring change on a large scale. This event has catapulted LIV Lukhanyiso on to the scene and agent of hope and life for our city.
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- GBS Board of Directors handing over check to Lara Kruiskamp and Nomonde Ndlangisa
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- Well attended Information evening in Grahamstown on the 5th of September 2019
October ended with a bang! The incredible Sole Sisters, who ran 107km over 3 days and raised R107 000 used the funds to buy LIV a car. This was made even easier through the generosity of Settler City Toyota who will be providing fuel and an annual service over the next year. We are going places through the support of so many incredible people.
The Sole Sisters handing over the car keys to the new LIV Lukhanyiso car.
2019 has been a year of expanding our Arts and Crafts programme. We have even taken some corporate orders and was invited to some very busy, local markets. It has been a privilege to continue and expand our community outreach work in and around Grahamstown.
We have enjoyed our partnership with LIV Thokomala, assisting with the care of the home in Marcelle at Kenton on Sea. The greatest milestone in our relationship this year was coming together with the Psychology Department at Rhodes University, who have released two Master’s Degree Candidates to provide group therapeutic services to the home.
One of the precious young ladies at the Thokomala home told us that she would not be attending her matric dance as she had nothing to wear. Her dream was to wear a red dress. As soon as we heard this, we sent a message to our incredible Grahamstown community and within hours she was set up for a dress fitting with the prestigious Jason Kieck Designers in Port Elizabeth. He has designed dresses for Miss World and Miss South Africa and effortlessly kitted our girl out with his red “show-stopper” dress from last year’s fashion show!
Our precious girl on her way to go dancing in her dream dress.
As she was getting ready for the matric dance, we received this message from Jason Kieck Designs: “While she is getting dressed, please read out Jeremiah 29:11 to her, it is on my heart for her at this very minute and please tell her that the dress is hers for keeps. Every time she wonders about everything, the dress can be the reminder that the Lord is with her!”
As you can see, LIV Lukhanyiso has been going from strength to strength and reaching our goal of building a safe place for 500 children in the Grahamstown area, is within our reach. We acknowledge that none of this is possible without the help of individuals and businesses buying into this amazing vision to rescue children, restore lives, raise leaders and release stars. Thank you to every person who is making a difference…however big or small.
Together we can!
