Khayelitsha Creche Construction

Khayelitsha, one of the largest townships in South Africa, is located in the Cape Flats area outside of Cape Town, South Africa. Its name is the Xhosa word for “new home”. Under the apartheid regime, blacks were prohibited from living in cities, therefore they settled on the outskirts of cities. Khayelitsha, established in 1985, became such a settlement for blacks, especially the Xhosa resettling from rural Transkei. Following the historic 1994 elections, hundreds of thousands moved to urban areas such as Khayelitsha, searching for work and/or education, and living in shacks of tin, wood and cardboard. Living conditions are improving, as evidenced by new brick housing, new schools and the creation of a central business district. Yet problems such as poverty, unemployment and crime are still quite significant.

The ministry of African Leadership in South Africa is based in Khayelitsha. It is first and foremost in this community that the organization works to fulfill its purpose of enabling others to fulfill their God-given potential through Christ Jesus, by raising up servant leaders. It does so through its multi-faceted ministry, which includes the training of pastors and church leaders in its Bible college in Khayelitsha, vocational training for adults, sports ministries and school outreaches for the youth, Saturday churches and Sunday schools for kids, preschools, camps, and so much more. It does these things through its network of trained leaders and the many strong relationships and connections in the local community.

Proposal

A key tool which African Leadership uses to partner with the community is the crèche. These basic multi-purpose buildings are built by African Leadership for the community with the community. Sites for these buildings are selected jointly with local leadership. Once completed, the creche becomes the property of the local community. African Leadership continues to assist the local leadership in their ministry through feeding programs, training and equipping of leaders, Bible teaching, and more.

These buildings serve many purposes in the community. First, these crèches are nurseries (by definition), generally caring for 50 children each weekday. This gives working parents a safe place to leave their children when they go to work. On Saturdays, these buildings become home to “Saturday church”, a place where 50 or more school age children can gather in a healthy, positive environment and learn the truth of who God is through biblical teaching and discipleship. Many crèches also serve as churches on Sundays as well. So, these buildings become community owned and operated multi-purpose ministry centers, reaching and serving everyone in the community from the oldest to the youngest.

African Leadership has built 20 crèches in Khayelitsha. Its commitment for each new crèche is to build the building and support the nursery’s feeding program for 2 years. And its commitment is to walk with local leadership to equip them to reach their community for Christ by proclaiming the truth of the gospel and by demonstrating His love through serving the needs of the community.

Total Need

$20,000 (for construction and 2 years of feeding)