WHEN PRAISES GO UP-BLESSINGS COME DOWN: 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

Mathapelo’s story

Mathapelo. She lives with her grandmother. Mathepelo is an orphan and her parents died some few years ago. She now lives with her unemployed grandmother. They depend on grant money for survival.

Mathapelo is one of hundreds energetic children who live in the filthy squatter camp of Silahliwe. Inspite of all the hardships, Mathepelo is dreaming high. Her dream is to become a teacher. Her favourite subject is English.

“When I grow up I want to be a teacher” said a shy Mathapelo. On 18 July (Mandela Day), she got a surprise visitor. Ipeleng Nyakong from Benmore visited Mathapelo under the “Ipeleng’s Doing It for the Needy Kids” Competition. Ipeleng was linked to the child under the Benjamin Dube Children’s Foundation. Ipeleng and Mathapelo only knew one another through the exchange of letters and pictures.

As part of the Mandela Day’s 67 minutes of service, Ipeleng took sometime to drive all the way from Johannesburg to Silahliwe to see her linked child.
It was a touchy situation as she was told about the situation Mathapelo was living under. The little Mathepelo couldn’t believe herself as she drove in Ipeleng’s car on the front seat. “When I’m old I will drive mama’s car.” Said Mathapelo pointing at Ipeleng’s volvo car.

Mathapelo’s grandmother was so thankful to ipeleng and wished her all the best. Ipeleng promised to help little Mathapelo in future.

Ipelenge (Centre), gogo and Mathapelo

Mathapelo in Ipeleng's car

Fire killed 3 children with their 2 parents

(The pain of the loss)

Fire killed 5 family members in a shack in Silahliwe Squatter Camp in the Vaal, Midvaal Municipality. Two children who were not in the shack on the night survived the fire. The two are Nthatho (12) and Nthabiseng (9).

This occured on the night of 17th July 2010. The fire was suspected to have been caused by the burning traditional heater “imbawula”. It was a sad situation as the community bid farewell to their neighbours. All eyes were on the two remaining kids.

There are more than 4000 children between the age of 2 and 11 who live in Silahliwe Squatter Camp. Most of the people live in 3x3 shacks. Each shack can accommodate 3 to 7 people. The area has no electricity; no clean water; and there’s no safe place for children to play. Pre-School kids are kept in shack classrooms, and those who attend school walk long distances to sschool.

The Benjamin Dube Children’s Foundation (BDCF) operates in this squatter camp. The aim is to provide full meal to the kids on daily basis; provide pre-school education; provide medical attention; and create a safe environment for the children to live and play.

The Benjamin Dube Children’s Foundation would like to take this opportunity to send its condolences to the family of the victims, especially the remaining two children; to the community members of Silahliwe and to the whole leadership of Silahliwe.

We would like to invite and call upon everyone to partner with the BDCF to help the community of Silahliwe. Please call Solomon on: +27 72 356 8282 or Precious on: +27 76 896 7139. You can send an email to: meya@webmail.co.za

(Biding farewell to a fallen friend)

(Survived the fire for the 3rd time)

(A scene not to be forgotten)

(Only prayer can save this little one)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Food Parcels for Kids - Love A Child, Support A Child

It was yet another day of joy amongst the children of Silahliwe Squatter Camp in the Vaal, Midvaal Municipality as 40 children received their food parcels. The food was donated by Foodbank SA and dsitributed by the Benjamin Dube Foundation.

We also had a visitor from Queen's Unirvesity of Canada who helped us in the distribution of food parcels.

“I am happy today, I will eat cornflakes.” Said a happy 4 year old Emihle Kraba who was carrying her box of kellog’s and yorgurt on the other hand. The parents were watching with excitement as their children were receiving their food parcels. “This is new in this squatter camp. We hope Foodbank and the Benjamin Dube Foundation could continue feeding our children.” Said a jubilant parent.

Everything went well and the food was distributed evenly to all children who were present. We started with the younger ones, between the age of 3 and 7 years old. We then distributed what remained to those children who are between 8 and 11 years old.

AS a service provider; the Benjamin Dube Foundation would like to thank Foodbank SA for their support. We encourage this initiative and we hope our partnership runs for many years to come as we provide to our future leaders; our future doctors, presidents, teachers, nurses of our country.

We hope and believe that South Africa can eradicate hunger if we all collectively work together as a nation. Thankyou Foodbank.

Monday, May 24, 2010

We're All In This Together - Teaser 2008

Benjanim Dube- ngiyakuthanda

Sunday, April 18, 2010

CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME

Matthew10:42 "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
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(We can not reach to millions of children, but we can bring hope to one child in need at a time.)

Sponsor a Child today, as you exchange letters, sends photos and offer encouragement in Jesus' name. Your love will bring hope to a child that will last a lifetime.

Click below and sponsor a child. Send us a child's code you are interested to sponsor.

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The Benjamin Dube Children's Foundation sponsorship is as little as R50.00 / US$7.00 a month ... but it rewrites the destiny of a forgotten child.

TAKE YOUR TIME AND WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. JUST CLICK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4NlyZqJhwk&feature=player_embedded

NB: A “One Time Donation” is acceptable; but we encourage a sponsorship that will maintain a child on monthly basis.We also accept donations such as clothing (for children of ages 2 to 11); blankets, bed sheets, beds for children, food, toys, educational material and medical supply e.g. children medicine.
We have 74 children in our sponsorship list:

You are invited to partner with the Benjamin Dube Foundation!

“The Wonderful World of Kids” is a community based early childhood development programme. The programme aims to establish care points/pre-school centres in squatter camps throughout South Africa and at sites of low income housing projects, initiated by the government.

The care points will provide education, nutritious food, medical services and a safe environment for children to play and develop.

The Benjamin Dube Foundation created “Wonderful World of Kids” to fill an urgent need in our communities to care for young children who are poverty stricken; some orphaned due to HIV/AIDS or because of chronic unemployment and family structures disintegrating due to the effects of poverty.

This project has potential, and currently seek sponsorship from individuals and businesses to continue building care points. The benefits of sponsorship are manifold and sponsorship is available in three packages:

1.R50 to R10 000 – a donation in this group will significantly change a child’s life and the donor will be published in our annual publications.

2.R11 000 to R100 000 – this will assist in the building of a care point and qualifies the donor to be considered for the care point to be named after the individual or business.

3.R110 000 to R155 000 – a donation in this bracket enables a care point to proceed and the care point is immediately named after the sponsor, even as it is being built.

(The sponsor can also name the care point in memory of a relative or family friend. It is a life time honour)

All Care points have inauguration ceremonies, and pride and positivity is generated for a sponsoring organisation and its employees through these events, particularly when a care point is named after the major sponsor.

There are many opportunities to publish this sponsorship and continue the relationship with the care point – which creates valuable intangible benefits for the sponsoring organisation, including positive impacts on staff morale and learning experiences that last a lifetime.

In the longer term, great goodwill for businesses and a sense of long lasting impact is achieved by sponsoring care points that stay in communities for many years, assisting thousands of growing children and becoming an integral part of a community in need.

(The sponsor will also be adverstised/marketed in all major gospel music shows of Pastor Benjamin Dube)

(For many years, I have been willing to be involved in the work of caring for poverty stricken children, through my concern for these vulnerable groups. I firmly believe, and have seen, that it is possible to alleviate the problems affecting South Africa’s children if we all collectively work together to make a difference and this; (foundation/project is a way to thank and plough back to the community through children) We are actively seeking sponsorship for our care points and we would be grateful for an opportunity to discuss and demonstrate our vision and the principles of our foundation to you.

Someone Help This Family

(Little Bongane Makhanda - 2 years old)

I was touched by the story of Bongani Makhanda (2) narrated to me by his brother Pheelo (10); on how Bongani was burnt. “My brother was sitting next to the traditional stove (imbawula); when suddenly I came across and mistakenly kicked the stove which had boiling water. The water fell on my little brother and my elder brother”. Said Pheelo.

He was very sad when the incident happened. This family stays in a 3x3m room. There are 6 in total; no father in the house. The house is built out of corrugated irons. The family survives on monthly grants which is spent within 3 days. The mother is unemployed. We appeal to God’s children to help this family.

Hope for the Kids of Silahliwe Squatter Camp

2 April 2010 – Foodbank South Africa donated food to the Benjamin Dube Foundation on the 1st April 2010, which was distributed to 25 children in Silahliwe Squatter camp near Meyerton. Children were so happy do receive food parcels during Easters. It was a great gift for them. “We thank Foodbank for the commitment and support for our children.” Said one happy parent. It feels good to see children smiling carrying food in their hands. We appreciate what Foodbank is doing and we hope for a long term partnership between the 2 organisations.

3rd April 2010 – Under the Benjamin Dube Foundation, I and my wife embarked on “Servolution Programme”. We went around washing dirty clothes for the kids. We washed for 3 familiies about 950 pieces of dirty clothes; I mean very dirty clothes. People were amazed to see a man washing clothes for the children. The children were very happy to see their uncle washing clothes for them. They were watching with smiles and willing to assist doing the washing. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t reach to all houses around the squatter camp, but we were happy to show practical love to the kids. “This is amazing!” said a mother of five kids who brought a big load of clothes from the shack house.

4th April 2010 – On this day, we embarked on making a food garden for the kids’ project. We managed to work for 6 hours. Our aim is to plant vegetables for the children.

On the same day, the bretheren from High Praise Church came to the squatter camp to distribute niknaks and sweets to the children and arranged for the next day to come and be with them the whole day.

5th April 2010 – Onother day for the children. The Christian sisters (2) from High Praise Church came with hotdogs, sweets and drinks and distributed to the kids.

Parents supporting the Benjamin Dube Children's Foundation

On the 10th April 2010, the Benjamin Dube Foundation (BDF) facillitated an urgent parents’ meeting at Silahliwe/Sicelo Squatter camp. This meeting took place at 10h30.

The meeting was chaired by Solomon Mondlane (Managing Director) and was attended by:

· Mrs. Precious Mondlane
· Nokwayiyo Kraba
· Nomphumelelo Kheswa
· Magret Twala
· Nigel Mbewe
· Aletta Ndebele
· Zanele Motaung Mvungade
· Nontembeko Stishi
· Mr. Anderson Mondlane

This meeting was meant to clarify things based on the overall operations of the foundation, and its work especially in Silahliwe/Sicelo Squatter camp.

The aim of the meeting was to:

• Clarify what the foundation is; its responsibilities and activities.
• Get more understanding on who should be involved, and why?
• Know how it operates.
• Know who are beneciaries?
• Know why it is in Sicelo/Silahliwe?
• Latest sponsors.
• Get future proposed ideas.

Solomon Mondlane (Charing the meeting)

I started by greeting the parents and apologised for calling an urgent meeting, but emphasized that it was for a good cause.

It was explained to the parents that, the foundation is for every needy child in the communities of South Africa; inspite of the race, religion, tribe, citizenship etc. “The aims of the organisation are; to feed the hungry kids; provide pre-school education; provide medical attention; create a safe environment for children to play; and to give children hope, not in the better tomorrow but hope in coming to know the love of Jesus Christ, and the wonders of His Mercy.” I emphasised.

The structure that exists for now stands asfollows; Pastor Benjamin Dube (Being the CEO and owner of the organisation); Solomon Mondlane (Managing Director) reports to Pastor Benjamin Dube; then the parents together with their children;(for now focussing in Silahliwe Squatter camp; but this is not meant to say only children in Sicelo/Silahliwe are to benefit. This was clearly explained to the parents).

The parents were told about the only sponsor that supports the Benjamin Dube Foundation which is the Foodbank, and the contact person being Sibusiso Zwane. They were told that the office of the BDF is in Johannesburg where Pastor Dube run his activities but not officially operating yet.

“The beneficiaries are the children,” that I emphasized, and no parents can claim money from the foundation. Children are only given food, eduaction and a safe environment is created for them; and pre-school is built once a sponsor is available.

Parents Comments

· Nomphumelelo Kheswa

She was happy about the operation of the organisation. She challenged the parents to be honest and to say that the foundation of this kind is the first to come to the community of Silahliwe.

· Mr. Nigel Mbewe

He was happy that the meeting was organised to clear up things. He said Solomon love the kids and the kids love him and understand him better than any one else.

He requested parents to be faithful and tell Mr. Mondlane that the organisation was the first of its kind in the area. He requested that the foundation continue to work without any disturbance and emphasized that they will support it as a community.

He was very happy that his child shared a stage with Pastor Benjamin Dube.

· Nontembeko Stishi

She thank Solomon for the project in the community.

· Magret Twala

She thanked Solomon for encouraging her children to go to church and for supplying with food.

· Zanele Motaung Mvungade

She was just smilling and happy that the kids are helped with food and taught bible lessons and for going to sing with Pastor Benjamin Dube.

· Nokwayiyo Kraba

She was happy that her kids will have a bright future.

· Mr. Mondlane

He said the parents must be happy that the foundation came to help children withoput the involvement of any.

· Mrs. Precios Mondlane

She was thankful to Mr. Mhlanga for the premises we were using for meetings after we were banned from using the community hall.

· Aletta Ndebele

She was very happy that the foundation is operating and was very thankful for the meeting. She was very happy for the benefits the children were getting.

Parents were given agreement forms to fill up stating that they accept that their children be enrolled under the BDF child sponsorship programme.

Next meeting

To beheld on 9th May 2010.

Who is Pastor Benjamin Dube??

Hope for this little girl!

Pastor Benjamin Dube took some time to distribute food parcels that were sponsored by the Foodbank to the kids.

Reverend Benjamin Dube is a music ministerial visionary, anointed songwriter and singer, music producer, mentor/father and pastor to many musicians and an inspiration to secular artists in South Africa. A Gospel legend of Africa, Reverend Benjamin Dube began the journey of his calling in ministry in 1986.

Thirteen years later, he cut a deal with Harmony Records in New York, USA, under Epic Record label and recorded his first live album - "I Feel like Going On" which sold over platinum in RSA only. His music ministry has briskly grown internationally, in USA, Sweden, Netherlands, Paris, Australia, and Japan and has an office in London -UK.

Rev. Benjamin Dube was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on January 23, 1962 -the last of five siblings.

With his musical background, he has fifteen albums to his name, eight which are still in the market. I feel like going on -album sold Platinum (Harmony Records/Spirit Music), Praise Explosion 2002 -album sold Gold (Spirit music/Dube Connection, For every mountain ... thank you-album sold Platinum (Spirit music/Dube Connection), High Praise Explosion "Oh Bless Our God" -album sold Gold (Sony/Dube Connection).

Thrice he was nominated as a Finalist in the MTN-SAMA awards (2004/6) under the Best Contemporary Gospel category and received an award for Best Praise and Worship Album in 2007 and also received a Crown Gospel Music award for Best Praise and Worship Artist 2008. One gospel honored him with two awards, Gospel Legend Award and the Best Contemporary Artist.

Reverend Dube is the Owner of a label called Dube Connection cc. licensing to Sony BMG and Spirit Music. Through the label he employs his other aptitudes as songwriter, author, and producer/arranger, discovering and developing young talent. He has developed business partnership with Sony, Spirit Music, Gallo, EMI, BMG, SAMRO, SARRAL, and RISA.

He is the founder of Artist Hope Arise (AHA) in 2009 and also co-founded God's Worshipers Convocation (GWC) in 2009. The first Convocation was in September 2009 and is available on DVD.

Reverend Benjamin Dube has been a guest of several national television and radio programmes, and has made news in every newspaper and magazine in South Africa. In December 2004, Sunday Sun -Newspaper named him the most influential celebrity of the month with integrity.

Reverend Benjamin with his wife Thabile and four sons live in the south of Johannesburg, RSA.

Pastor Benjamin Duibe rehearsing with the Kids before the launch of his new album "In His Presence 2" on the 07th March 2010.

Happy Expirience for the Kids

A role model for the hundreds of kids in Silahliwe Squatter camp, Pastor Benjamin Dube

Benjamin Dube Foundation Gospel Choir

I’m humbled and touched by the way Ps. Dube is responding to the Benjamin Dube Children’s Foundation. “He is down to earth”, said my wife. Yesterday, 03/03/2010, he was rehearsing with the children from Silahliwe Squatter camp in the Vaal “Silahliwe” means we are dumped (direct translation). They will share a stage with him during the launch of his album, “In His Presence 2”. That is on the 7th March 2010. They will sing two songs, “Ngiyakuthanda” and “Amen”.

He was connected well with the children and kept on making jokes with them. The kids enjoyed themselves and loved each and every moment with Pastor Benjamin Dube. It is a dream-come true. Pastor Dube is the king of gospel music; a worshiper. We also thank Food bank for the parcel donations which Ps. Benjamin Dube handed over to the kids.

NB: The kids finally shared a stage with Pastor Benjamin Dube on 07th March 2010. The were loved by the audience.