KIDS FOR CHRIST
CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME

Matthew 10:42 "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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Introduction

While we acknowledge the government grants to our children; we cannot deny the fact that a lot still need to be done for the millions of needy kids out there.

Most families rely on these child grants for survival; thus doing little for the benefit of a designated child; which denies him/her nutrious food, medical attention, better education and a safe environment.

South Africa has been faced by many challenges for the past 15 years after a long struggle with apartheid which on its own caused much damage to our children.

· HIV/AIDS had been a major blow to South Africa's children which had brought about many orphans or children raised by single parents.

· Unemployment and poverty had brought about many deaths to our children due to starvation and lack of medical attention.

· The recent xenophobic attacks has also contributed towards the number of orphans in our country.

· The family conflicts & divorces are major setbacks to our children.

· The immigration of refugees from other parts of Africa to South Africa has brought about an increase to children who need an immediate help.

The church need to stand for these children who have become the victims of the evil circumstances. It is the church that can restore morals to our community through children and raise a generation of hope.

Aims and objectives of this programme

To feed the children.

To provide medical attention.

To provide education to pre-school children.

To create a safe environment for the children.

To give hope to thousands of poverty stricken children. Hope not only for a better tomorrow, but hope in coming to know Jesus Christ, and the wonder of His mercy and love.


There are thousands of hungry mouths out there; and as Christians we can show His love by feeding these little ones.

We can not reach to millions of children, but we can bring hope to one child in need at a time.

Implementation stage

A project centre need to be identified (KFC-Mercy Centre)

In this case Soshanguve will be the first area to launch this KFC-Child Sponsorship Programme. The reason we have chosen Soshanguve is that, basic facilities are already
there.

We then need to identify children in need in that particular area, e.g. in Soshanguve; (These kids are orphans; some are raised by struggling single parents; some are raised by unemployed parents; and those children who find themselves in need while their parents are there, and are working.)

We then create individual profiles for those children.

We take them pictures, individually.

We then write a short story about each child. This must include the child’s family background and his/her favorites e.g. colour, pet, sport, etc.

These children must be between the ages of 3 and 11, and they must be admitted in our mercy centres until they are 18 years old.

At Soshanguve we will admit at least 75 children for a start.

For these 75 children to be taken care of, they each need a sponsor. Each child need at least R550.00 per month to get a full meal, education, medication and have a safe environment to play.

How do we get individual sponsors for 75 children?

We need to form what we call “KIDS FOR CHRIST MERCY CLUBS” in the branches/churches.

These Mercy Clubs must have their own coordinators.

Coordinators’ Duties (A)

To market the KFC-CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME to the church members.
To recruit members in the church to join the KFC-MERCY CLUB.

The coordinators need to talk about the KFC-CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME every Sunday.

They need to place the updated pictures of the sponsored child on the notice board.

They need to create a “KFC-MERCY CORNER” within the church.

They need to tell the story of the needy child as it is to congregation. They must at least request 10-15 minutes to speak about the child in need. A vibrant member of the church can be requested to talk about that particular child.

They must see to it that every after 3 months, the National Child Sponsorship Coordinator is invited to the church to preach and/or to talk about the programme.

The aim of doing all these, is to recruit at least 45 members within the congregation to join the KFC-MERCY CLUB.

These 45 members can be able to break the amount of R550.00 to a small amount of R12.22 per member, per month for 12 months.
Which definitely makes up a total of R550.00 per month.

This is the amount needed to feed one child in need.

Coordinators’ Extra Duties (B)

To be a centre of communicate between the Child Sponsorship Coordinator, the sponsored child and her branch/church concerning the programme.

To attend coordinator's meetings and trainings twice a year.

To ensure that the Child Sponsorship Program is run smoothly, and to give a report to the church, pastor and the KFC-Mercy Club members.

To ensure that a Sponsored Child visits the church once in a while.

To ensure that all the monthly contributions are collected from the KFC-Mercy Club members and deposited in the projects designated account.

To ensure that the child sponsorship programme is promoted in the church.
To ensure that all letters sent by the child to the sponsors are read to the church congregation and pasted on the notice board.

To ensure that all letters sent by the child are replied.

To ensure that the sponsored child's pictures are updated and placed on the church notice board every after 6 months.

To ensure that the KFC-MERCY CORNER is updated with new information of the sponsored child.

To fundraise for the KFC-MERCY CORNER. E.g. selling of books, tapes, CDs or DVDs in the church.

Together in Jesus, we can brighten the future of these little ones

As time goes. We are going to implement the follow things in our programme, in all our branches;

PLACE A KFC-CHILD SPONSORSHIP BROCHURE DISPLAY.This is to let more people know about child sponsorship by placing displays in a well trafficked area such as a waiting room, Christian bookstore or church foyer. The display must fully stocked with child sponsorship brochures.

CHILD SPONSORSHIP BROCHURE. Use the brochure as a hand out to friends and family. Perhaps your church would be willing to include the brochure as a bulletin insert on a particular Sunday. With this one simple act, you could recruit several child sponsors.

CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROFILE.You probably know several people who might be interested in sponsoring a child in poverty. You will receive the photo and story of one child who is awaiting a sponsor. We will create an instruction sheet. The instruction sheet will guide you through the steps on how to present child sponsorship to a friend, family member or co-worker.

RADIO PROGRAM.Through the radio broadcast event, thousands of poverty stricken children have been given hope. Hope not only for a better tomorrow, but hope in coming to know Jesus Christ, and the wonder of His mercy and love. How a radio station can get involved and change the lives of children through child sponsorship?

ARTIST PROGRAM.For years Christian Music Artists and Christian Speakers have been using their platform to speak on behalf of children in poverty and encouraging others to sponsor a child. Get artists and musicians involved.

In closing, I would like to say that, the money raised (R550.00) covers many things for the programme to be a successl. Apart from buying food, the money goes to the teachers, cooks, qualified nurses and of course to administration.

The money raised during organized fundraising events within the church is allocated for the administration of the KFC-CHILD SPONSORSHIP CLUB in our respective branches.

Thanks for committing yourselves to this programme. The KFC-Child Sponsorship Programme is guided by the following values;

Christ Centred
Child Focused

KFC-MERCY CORNERS

These are the main engines of the programme for it to be successful in any branch.

The “KFC-Mercy Corners” must be placed in a visible corner within the church building.
It must be decorated with appealing messages and pictures.
The person in charge must be vibrant.

Basic things you need at the “KFC-MERCY CONERNER” are:

A table and a chair covered in a beautiful cloth.

Appealing pamphlets and letters addressed to the church members.

Pictures and pictures of the child that need to be sponsored (pictures in different forms).
Appealing messages.

A vibrant person (well trained), who is able to present the child’s situation to the congregation.
The Record Sheet (shown on page 9).


ABOUT THE NATIONAL KFC-CHILD SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR
(Solomon Mondlane)

Solomon Mondlane is a husband married to Precious Mahlangu, and a father of 3 girls; Constance (9), Tracy (3) and Nanette (1).

He is also one of those people who were raised by strangers, out love.

For the past 10 years, Solomon has worked for five different youth organizations locally and international.

These organizations are:

The Mozambican Educational Youth Association “MEYA” in Mozambique. (As a youth mentor. Educating the youth on the dangers of drugs.)

Youth Development Outreach “YDO” in Pretoria. (As a youth programme facilitator for the children in conflict with the law, referred by the courts.) www.ydo.co.za

Lovelife in South Africa (As a Debate Coordinator in Mamelodi. Dealing with issues affecting the youth)

Khulisa Crime Prevention Initiative “Khulisa CPI” In South Africa. (As prison programme facilitator in HIV/AIDS and pre-release programmes.) www.khulisaservices.co.za

Children’s Cup in Mozambique (As a Sponsor Specialist on Child sponsorship programmes) www.childrenscup.org

Solomon had been a missionary in Swaziland and in Mozambique serving under the Children’s Ministry. He was born again in 1997.

Solomon was a child soldier at the age of 13 in Mozambique.
For more info on Solomon visit his family blog at: http://www.mondlaneministries.blogspot.com/