Themba Dlamini, one of the great success stories to emerge out of CAST's business development programme, has taken his car-wash business to the next level. With dreams of expansion, Themba set out with a mission to purchase a container for his business. This would allow him to have a spaza shop running alongside his carwash so that while customers were waiting, they could hang out, purchase food and drinks and socialise with one another. Last weekend, the passionate [...]
On Tuesday, the 24th September, 100 members of Westville Baptist Church along with 120 members of the Kwadabeka community, came together in a beautiful portrayal of Heritage Day. An initiative powered by CAST- a social outreach non-profit- and Westville Baptist, “Brighten up Kwadabeka” was a day aimed at painting, fixing, cleaning and repairing Sithokozile Secondary School, handing out food parcels and making home visits to the food parcel recipients of the community, and running a children’s programme [...]
Many of you may have seen our new slogan floating around the social media realms and wondered what the inspiration behind it is. "Move Beyond Charity" is our way of expressing what the core beliefs behind our organisation are. We believe that extreme poverty can end, that mindsets can be changed, and that love is a necessity. We believe that changing the world requires more than just a handout, more than just charity; it requires action.... it requires [...]
Hearts to Hands is holding a Christmas Love Box drive, where we aim to give 800+ underprivileged children in poor families a Christmas present. We invite “YOU” to take part in this exciting and fun project to make a difference and bring a smile to a poor and needy child’s face this year. How can you get involved? Bring a wrapped shoe box and fill it with presents per suggestions on the list below. Collect from us: · [...]
Last weekend, Hearts to Hands and CAST held a Blanket Drive Campaign at The Village Market Centre. This campaign was linked to the Fitcampathon Winter Warmth Program in which participants have free entry into the Fitcampathon but are asked to donate a blanket towards those that are less fortunate this winter. The day brought in about 200 participants who donated about 250 blankets as well as clothes. Hearts to Hands even managed to recruit some potential future volunteers [...]
Debbie and Ernie Calder, two of CAST's devoted volunteers, had a story and message for everyone this week. We feel moved to respond to the message Pastor John brought to the church under the heading “God in our Country”. John referred to Nehemiah returning to Jerusalem to build the city wall. This wall was important to the people. We also have walls to build in this country ...and bridges. Pastor John’s message also said “start representing and displaying [...]
KwaDabeka Sports Day. Getting the youth more involved in the church was a vision for KwaDabeka Baptist this year and it seems the vision is becoming a reality. To commemorate June 16th, Youth Day, CAST coordinator, Lungelo, organised for a Sports Event to be held at the church – an opportunity for the youth to socialise and enjoy their community beyond the weekly Friday night meetings. The KwaDabeka sports teams were joined by teams from Isaiah House Church [...]
“The Street Ministry can be challenging and even distressing at times but victories like Mary’s* make it all so worthwhile knowing that God is omnipresent in our endeavors and is busy changing lives for the better and giving His people hope and a future”. When the team met Mary at The Nest shelter in Durban Central, she was in a bad way. Suffering from epilepsy and on constant medication, she came across very judgmental and self-centered. She had [...]
Imagine walking into a school and having the most beautiful children in Durban come running towards you and jumping into your arms even though they have never met you before in their life. Well, that’s exactly what Addington Primary Holiday Club is like. Within mere minutes you will have one or two children adopting you for the week: wanting to play catches with you; giving you an endless supply of hugs; playing with your hair; sitting on your [...]
It’s a one night commitment a week...but it could change a life for eternity. About one and a half years ago, the CAST Street Ministry Team met a man named Johan at one of their weekly visits to The Nest shelter in Durban Central. Many of the team warmed to Johan’s friendly nature and dry sense of humour and over time he became a good friend to the team. He had not had contact with his family for [...]
