The Covenant Gardens Estate (CGE) Project is a ground breaking initiative that shows the extent to which collaborative efforts of the church, the banking sector, the business sector, municipalities and visionary traditional leadership can bring development to disadvantaged rural communities, North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise said ahead of the multi-million rands project to be launched at 11 h00 in Mathibestad village in Moretele Local Municipality today, Saturday 31 March 2012.
In welcoming the One Million Children Campaign which is the humanitarian work of Pat Francis Ministries (PFM) that is supported by a group of global Christian business people under the auspices of the Kingdom Leadership Network, Premier Modise said that the rollout of the campaign is in line with the objectives of government’s Each- One-Settle-One Campaign programme and shared vision of the creating safe and secure environment for vulnerable children to be raised.
As part of the collaboration with the Moretele Local Municipality and communities, Kgosi Lepono Mathibe of the Bahwaduba Traditional Council donated 10 hectares of land for the construction of eight homes, a multi-purpose centre and an administration block. The CGE Project has Sesego Cares; a charity affiliated to Absa Bank Group is its strategic partner.
“We believe that the project will be a flagship model that will see our municipalities and traditional leaders working with the private sector to develop communities and create employment. The involvement of ABSA through Sesego Cares demonstrates that Absa Bank is not only focusing on banking but is also actively involved in fostering sustainability of communities,” says Premier Modise.
“Sesego Cares has partnered with CGE due to the alignment of the vision of sustainable upliftment of vulnerable people and communities. We are proud to be associated with the CGE project which will provide homes to about 80 disadvantaged children whilst uplifting the community of Mathibestad. We are committed to supporting the realisation of the objective of bringing hope, security, dignity and brighter futures for the vulnerable children and the community of Mathibestad,” said Joanne Von Zuenuer, Chairperson of the Sesego Cares Board.
Zuenuer said that the ethos of Sesego Cares, a Section 21 entity that was established by the spouses of the Absa employees to make a sustainable difference in the lives of vulnerable people in South Africa and Southern African Development Community (SADC) hinges on the spirit of Ubuntu where people come together to help those in need.
She highlighted that its success is based on its ability to foster strategic partnerships with like-minded organisations aimed at meeting the needs of those who are vulnerable in various communities.
“I would like to thank the Pat Francis Ministries for coming all the way from Canada to build such a project in our community. We believe that implementation of this project will see vulnerable children being taken under good care, whilst the community is also being transformed. We will work together on this project and believe that employment opportunities for the local community members will be created” said Kgosi Mathibe.
“We want to restore the dignity and destiny of the stigmatised “Aids Orphans” and people at risk in South Africa. We believe that children are the hope for the future and through our work we will seek to ensure that they are saved, educated, loved and empowered for a prosperous future, transformed from “systemic poverty to systemic prosperity. I believe that ‘In every acorn there is an oak tree; in every child there is a king” says Dr Pat Francis.
Francis says that employment opportunities for the local community members will be created including transfer of skills from overseas. He said it has also been humbling to see how some companies have pledged in-kind to assist in the construction of the Estate as well as how government departments have pledged their support towards the establishment, development and sustainability of the CGE’s.
The department of Justice and Constitutional Development has assisted us in the registration of the PFM Trust.
The CGE’s mission is to rescue, help and empower desperate children from a life of poverty to prosperity and purpose through building homes for their safety and care, provision for their educational and spiritual needs and creating business solutions to transform lives and communities.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 0866204802
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Premier Modise welcomes partnership for roll-out of homes for AIDS orphans
Province
