Allistair and Merencia Scholtz have taken over the management of El-Shammah Home for Abandoned Babies and Place of Safety.<\/p>\n
The take-over was effective as of September 1.<\/p>
The home was previously managed by the founders, Frikkie and Bertha Spies, since it was established seven years ago, in 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are informing people that we are the new managers, but it is not to say that Frikkie and Bertha are no longer in the picture,\u201d said Allistair.<\/p>
Due to other commitments, Frikkie and Bertha decided to step down and hand-over management.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrikkie and Bertha have ministries at the church, El-Shammah Ministries International, in Primrose, and so the home has become a lot for them to handle, which is why they needed a new managing couple,\u201d said Merencia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were appointed by the home\u2019s board to take over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe home is very hands-on, as you need to go to court, hospital and doctor\u2019s appointments, among other things, on a weekly basis, and they realised that they had to pass on the baton to another couple, who will devote their time to the running of the home,\u201d said Allistair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very happy to be here, it is a dream come true.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy former job was not as rewarding as this; I have always loved children.\u201d<\/p>\n
Merencia agreed with Allistair.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a passion for me, I feel as though I am living my purpose,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very blessed to wake up and to take care of the children.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allistair told the GCN that the home is in desperate need of funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe property the home occupies is for sale and the organisation needs to raise funds to purchase it,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe organisation has been given first priority to purchase the house, but we don\u2019t have the R850 000 needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe appeal to the community; individuals and companies alike to help us raise funds to save the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe organisation has until January 31 to raise the funds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allistair added that funds are needed for the day-to-day running of the home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to beef up our security because, among other things, the motor gate isn\u2019t working and the chairs that were on our patio were stolen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also need nappies and milk formula for the babies – and that is not everything we need on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really want to save the home and we hope that the help we need materialises.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information, or to make a donation, contact Merencia on 011 873-0610 or 074 942 1297, or send an email to el-shammah@telkomsa.net.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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