We are starting 2012 with our January school holiday programme with the theme of “Dream the Impossible Dream!” which will help every POP child and youth to hold on to their dreams with passion, commitment and restored excitement through out this year depsite the ever changing circumstances.

We started this morning – I have managed to visit 4 of our 6 rural communities where we had programmes with our POP children and youth. As I was driving back to Goedgedacht farm I could not the images of the hunderds of children and young people whom I saw today out of my mind…some so neglected and hungry that it appeared that they had very little to eat during the Christmas holidays but yet full of smiles and a deep sense of hope which is mainly created by all of YOU who are supporting our work in communities where otherwise there would be no possitive activities during school holidays.

We are DREAMING the impossible DREAM of setting up 7 more RURAL POP YOUTH CENTRES in 7 additional rural communities and include a further 7 000 in the next 5 years to reach our goal of 10 000 pairs of feet on their paths out of poverty. Now for most people I know this dream seem impossible but for us we see the faces that have nothing but their feet walking their PATHS out of POVERTY every day with so much determination and courage that inspires us to continue to look for creative and simple ways to protect and inspire our POP children to keep trying no matter how many times they fail! We believe POP can keep every rural child and young person in Africa’s DREAM alive.

Thank you for helping us to walk with these feet till they have shoes and an extra pair to give to others who are less fortunate than them.

Ingrid Lestrade
POP Co-ordinator

Our Rural Youth Leadership Academy well on it’s way. Most builders finish work on the 15th of December but our group of builder are trying to make as much progress as they can and they worked up until the 22nd. We are very grateful for their support and keenness to get the job done.

It is getting hot here in the Swartland and you can almost feel the heat from these pictures. We are very excited about this new centre of ours and hope that great things will come from it.

‘Academy’ sounds very posh which is not our intention but we do want to make it a very special place were small numbers of gifted young adults who live in rural areas can come for short courses on how to sharpen their leadership abilities so that they can make a contribution to the communities that they live in.

We will be focusing on the principles of ‘servant-leadership’ and instill in these young people a love of service and commitment. Wish us well and all advice on how we can go about this undertaking will always be welcomed.