Today for Tomorrow
TODAY FOR TOMORROW IN SOUTH AFRICA AND SWAZILAND, SIM PROJECT NUMBER 97684
“Planting Seeds for the future” – HIV and Aids Prevention
For some special children in South Africa and Swaziland, the future shines a little brighter today thanks to our educational program. These boys and girls are learning basic life skills and discovering that they are unique and special creations of God. They are also being taught to make wise choices, develop godly character, apply biblical principles to their lives, and take responsibility and leadership in their future.
Local churches and other organizations work with children in the community, at school and at church thus and help to improve their physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional development.
SIM is making this curriculum available to partner organizations. Read more under each partner’s page or watch the short video on our Media Page.
ABOUT TODAY FOR TOMORROW
T4T is a children discipleship and HIV and AIDS prevention program targeting children between 6 to 12 years of age. The program aims to contribute significantly to an AIDS free generation through HIV and AIDS awareness raising, and by instilling good moral values.
The program started in Zimbabwe and was introduced to South Africa and Swaziland in 2009.
PURPOSE STATEMENT
To see the Lord at work in the lives of young people and children as they accept Christ as Lord and Savior, and as He empowers them to live lives that will prevent them from contracting HIV, where it is in their power to do so.
To focus on HIV prevention through:
- Reaching out to the whole child, and helping them develop in every aspect of life.
- Instilling godly values and principles of biblical living.
- Developing and building character.
- Providing a supportive framework for the children we work with.
Our Key Verse for Planting Seeds for the Future: ISAIAH 55 vs 8-11
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the Lord. “As the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the Earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields Seed for the Sower and Bread for the Eater, so is my Word that goes out from my Mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the Purpose for which I sent it.”
HOW DO WE DO THE MINISTRY
We focus on reaching the whole child through a lesson curriculum which incorporates material and activities focusing on all aspects of a child’s life i.e. spiritual, social, physical, mental and emotional.
The program has two main arms:
1. The community based arm runs Midweek and focuses on the children in the community of a particular area where the program reaches all children, regardless of religion, race, color.
2. The Church based arm focuses on the children attending various church services.
All of the programs are run by volunteers whom we train. These volunteers come from the local areas and churches where the programs are implemented.
A trainer team offers a minimum of 4 days intensive training either to train the implementor (volunteers) or trainers. Follow up training of volunteers take place at a later stage.
Initial training is so important because it teaches more than just using the lessons. Volunteers learn specific skills which will assist them in any work they do with children (e.g. understanding children, counseling) and they get to know our dynamic and child friendly way of teaching.
The Lesson:
The volunteers start every lesson by playing sports and games with the children. As they arrive they can join in. Once all of the children have arrived there is a time of welcoming each other and singing the songs they love to sing.
Then a time of learning starts, whereby the volunteers teach them in a dynamic and child friendly way, after having divided the children according to their age groups. The lessons include life skills, HIV prevention and awareness and the basic principles of Christianity.
The format that the volunteers use includes drama, illustrations, discussion groups, question and answer sessions, storytelling, games and other practical involvement by the children.
Methodology:
All of our lessons are designed to assist the children to develop in the differently aspect of their lives as previously mentioned. The baseline of all these lessons is founded on the Word of God, as it speaks into the aforementioned aspects of a child’s life.
A DREAM COMING TRUE?
Recently in Zimbabwe 107 young people who benefited from this programme were tested HIV negative during a voluntary, counseling and testing by “New Start Centre” at the annual revival conference of the United Baptist Church, Zimbabwe, in April 2010. We are beginning to see our dream of contributing significantly to an HIV and AIDS free generation coming true. We look forward to seeing similar results in South Africa and Swaziland!
CONTACT
DANIELA VAN DEN BERG, HOPE for AIDS Coordinator South Africa
Telephone: +27 21 715 3200; Cell: +27 83 951 7975
Email: Daniela.vandenberg@sim.org; Skype: daniela.van.den.berg
For your interest, the following are the lesson authors:
Rev Graham D. Haddad (Intermediate Life Support Paramedic, Johannesburg Ambulance College, 1995; BA -Th; Potchefstroom, 1998 1998; L-Th, BISA 1998; Children’s pastor for over 10 years)
Mrs Jessie Haddad (BA in Bible and Theology , ICI International Correspondence. 1999, BSc in Physiotherapy; WITS University. 1994)
Rev Christopher D. Maphosa (MSc in Counseling candidate; Zimbabwe Open University since 2009; Diploma in Project Plan and Management. Mutare Professional College, 2008; BSc in Counseling; Zimbabwe Open University; Specialized in Children’s behavior 2005; Diploma in Theology Pentecostal Bible College 1993; 11 years of pastoral ministry)
