From Cape Town to Mauritius, here are some of the ways we are ‘Lighting the World’ in Southern Africa

Written by Mosa Zulu

More than 30 humanitarian projects across Southern Africa are underway as members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across Southern Africa take part in an effort to Light The World this December.

The #LightTheWorld Christmas initiative, now in its fifth year, encourages all around the globe, regardless of religious affiliation, to share the joy of Christ’s love through service.

Here are a few of the ways participants are joining hands in Southern Africa to provide care, upliftment and cheer to people in their own communities.

Springs volunteers take to the malls to raise donations for childrens’ homes

In Springs, east of Johannesburg in South Africa, four large local malls agreed to house Light the World “giving boxes” to receive donations for specially-identified non-profit organisations needing support.

Members of the Church donated their time manning the stalls at the malls and received second-hand clothing, toiletries, stationery and cleaning products for the homes in need. Then, volunteers gathered at the centres to donate the goods. One of the beneficiaries was Vita Nova Centre, a centre that caters for persons with Cerebral Palsy, Downe Syndrome, Autism and the physically and mentally challenged.

Another one of the stake’s service projects was St Francis Care Centre, a hospice and palliative care for persons suffering from threatening and life limiting conditions. Members participated in some much-needed garden work at the centre, before returning for a play date.

One young girl spent her school break making several beanies, which were presented to the centre along with other donations.

Ladysmith, South Africa volunteers bring color to Children's Home

Members of the church in Ladysmith, South Africa donated almost 200 hand-made curtains to the Môrester Children’s Home.

Môrester Children’s Home cares for children that were removed from their families by a court order as a result of unsafe and unhealthy circumstances in their homes. The home houses 157 children in 11 houses in Ladysmith and surrounding areas.

“During our visit to the care centre we found the curtains to be old and washed out and often two different curtains hung at the same window.  We felt that curtains are associated with light, and this would fit in well with our campaign,” Sister Susan De Klerk the Communications Director in Ladysmith District of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said.

Hours of sewing the curtains, and more hours of altering the curtains to Môrester’s specifications yielded 198 curtains.

The group further donated a volleyball net and two volleyballs as well as boxes of biscuits.

With tears in her eyes, Nobambo Nzinya, a social worker at the Môrester Children’s Home expressed her gratitude for the efforts of the volunteers.

“The children kept asking when the centre is going to buy them cookies for Christmas. And I honestly didn't know what to tell them as I knew that there was no funds available to buy cookies for Christmas,” Nobambo Nzinya said.

“We as the centre are so grateful. Your service proves that you work in collaboration with the Holy Spirit.”

Cape Town, South Africa volunteers #LightTheWorld in Centre For Abused Women and Children
Members and unit leaders in Cape Town organized efforts to collect and donate 200 comfort packs for children at MOSAIC, a community-based non-profit organisation for abused women and children that provides support services, access to justice and training for abuse survivors.  

While 200 comfort packs consisting of new clothes, underwear, face cloths, toys, toiletries, juice, two-minute noodles and biscuits may not prevent gender-based violence, they will certainly improve the lives of the affected victims.

“There were so many members from our region who were involved in this project. From unit leaders collecting and receiving items to more leaders delivering it to the event,” said Denise Van Der Merwe, the Communications Director of Cape Town Stake for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said.

“Volunteers put together donations with care, while congregational Church leaders encouraged their members to participate any way they could. There was so much love and service given to this project that it can’t be fully expressed,” she continued.

Two of South Africa’s biggest retail outlets collaborated with the Church in donating and giving the church items at a discounted price towards the abused victims.

The Executive Director of MOSAIC, Tarisai Mchuchu-MacMillan, poured out her thanks to the Cape Stake for the service.

“I am so grateful to the Cape Town Stake for selecting MOSAIC. During this Christmas season the #LightTheWorld initiative has lightened the burdens of so many children who access our services at the Thuthuzela Care Centres by generously donating comfort packs,” said Mchuchu-MacMillan.

Volunteers in Mauritius paint children's shelter

Across the Indian Ocean, volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mauritius gathered to paint an apartment that houses six orphaned children at the S.O.S children village.

The shelter for the orphans in Mauritius advocates for childhood development and supports orphaned children by giving them access to a home, safety, education and health care.

The director of S.O.S children village, Mr Christiano Arlando expressed his gratitude for the members’ efforts. “I felt the members’ willingness to help during their service of painting one of the children's apartments,” Arlando said.

Volunteers in Durban, South Africa get dirty keeping the streets clean

Dressed in red “Light the World" t-shirts, volunteers took to the streets of South Beach and the Durban harbour to clean.

This clean-up was in collaboration with the local government of Ethekwini and Gagasi FM, a local radio station in KwaZulu-Natal.

The cleaning campaign was part of the City's on-going efforts of keeping the streets of Ethekwini clean, while creating an awareness on the proper disposal of waste.

With the cleaning spots identified, and the pickup truck arranged, members of the church, Ethekwini Municipality and Gagasi FM with brooms on the one hand and refuse bags in the other, swept through the streets of South beach and Durban harbour.

Tons of clothing items, plastics, polystyrene food packaging, and beverage bottles were collected.

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Stake Lights up lives

After two industrious weeks, members of the Bulawayo and Nkulumane Zimbabwe Stakes completed two service projects at two centres - the Ramstein Salvation Army Home of the Aged and Qinisani Daycare Orphanage.

The time-period of the service projects was packed with clearing of the yard, cleaning of the centres and construction of a rabbit cage. Donations of four rabbits were made to the two centres. 

President Mzingaye Ndlovu, a leader for the church in Buluwayo, addressed the attendees at the handover, a joyful event where members of the Church sang Christmas carols for the elderly.

"Continue to follow the example of Jesus Christ and also light the world here at Ramstein Salvation Army Home of the Aged. Our Lord Jesus Christ, went about in a ministry that extended over a period of three years. [During that period of three years] nothing was about him. He sought to lift others,” Ndlovu said.

George, South Africa: Lighting up the neighbourhood

In keeping true to the spirit of Christmas, Elder and Sister Miller, serving as missionaries in the George-Knysna area on the Western coast of South Africa, participated in a neighbourhood Christmas house lighting tradition.

Houses along one suburban street place Christmas lights outside their homes in a lighting spectacle that brings in visitors from all over the town. “We are the first house on the block to present a completely Christian nativity depiction in our yard which has been seen by many hundreds of people,” the Millers said.

In another service project titled “Light the world by helping one person help another”, missionaries identified an area in the George metropolitan area that needed upliftment.

“We identified a local neighbourhood park that was in bad need of upgrading, interviewed patrons of the park and a neighbourhood volunteer who helped clean the park,” Elder Miller said

“We then kept track of what facilities were being used and what was in need of repair. We contacted and met with local government officials and presented a comprehensive plan to them and demonstrated our willingness as a church to help fund the initial upgrade needs to get the project rolling. They approved our initial proposal and we ordered some facility upgrades which will be installed this week,” the Millers said.

Would you like to joint the movement to #LightTheWorld this Christmas? Visit www.LightTheWorld.org to find out more.