PCCA Journal|1
st
Quarter 2010
41
brought for themselves, but the atmosphere is so much
different.
Feeding programs are a very good start, and starving
children now have food every day, but the transfor-
mation of the community needs more than a feeding
program. To make a lasting change to the village, more
programs need to be put in place, and a church/com-
munity center is key to administering these additional
programs. Once a building is constructed, a preschool
can be developed that will give the most vulner-
able children a jump start on their schooling. When
an after-school learning center is established to help
children whose parents and/or guardians are mostly
illiterate, the success rate in school is increased signifi-
cantly. Church and spiritual training can now be held
in a building in which the pastor and congregation can
take pride. The village pastor, as a direct result of the
church building being in place, starts to become the
focal point of the village, administering many programs
that accelerate the transformation of the village. The
church/community center sends a strong message of
hope, permanency, and possibility.
In villages where Helping Hands in Africa has
worked for a number of years, the transformation is
powerful. Children are staying in school and graduat-
ing from high school for the first time ever. Community
leaders are becoming empowered to apply for, and
receive, government housing grants for their village to
replace dilapidated shacks with very modest homes.
Guardians of orphans are applying for and receiving
childcare grants to allow them to take better care of
their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, etc. Small
businesses are springing up as people feel empowered
to take back control of their circumstances. A spirit of
hope replaces the feeling of despair at the enormity of
the problems the village faces.
Currently there are two villages where Help-
ing Hands has established some basic pro-
grams, but the villages are being held back by
the lack of resources to finish structures that
were started 2-plus years ago. The buildings,
shown below, are ready to be built out and
will be a key to accelerate the transformation
of the village once completed.
These villages need someone to reach out
and help them accelerate their path to a
higher degree of self-respect and self-sufficien-
cy by helping complete the structures so that
additional programs can be established. A per-
manent structure will encourage hope, com-
munity pride, and possibility for the future.
It is our hope that PCCA members can play
a significant role in helping HHIA to finish
these very important structures that contribute
so greatly to the self-sufficiency of a village and the
future of these children. I believe this is very doable.
Let’s talk!
Herb Fluharty, of Mears Group, Inc., is a past presi-
dent of PCCA. He can be reached at herbert_fluharty@
hotmail.com.Blydeville Township, Lichtenburg
Mabelle a Podi Village, Pilanesburg
Michelle Tessendorf tells PCCA members about the dire situation in
Africa and explains what Helping Hands in Africa is doing to help.