International volunteers

Our International volunteers came in full force this winter at Refilwe! We were blessed by new friendships and amazing contributions. It is our honor and pleasure to host these many willing hands and hearts to integrate for a short time but a lasting love into our community. Our first group came in our biggest pack of 31 blue-hooded teenagers. Calday Grange Grammar School (UK) always comes with the gift of energy and friendship to our kids. It was a great help to have Calday join us for our Teen Club, help out with holiday homework, run a fun soccer clinic and create constant entertainment for our kids. They gifted us with droves upon droves of clothing, great football uniforms, financial support, and lots of love. We are proud to be the winners of the “Joefilday Bowl”, our football match between the Jo Slovo/Refilwe teens vs. the Calday boys. Next came a lovely smaller group from our vast network of churches through Co-operative Baptist Fellowship who stopped through on their way to the Baptist World Alliance. While they were here they encouraged us with their sweet spirits and positive personalities, as well as working on site to improve our Refilwe Children’s play areas. They were so kind to bring over many American necessities for our Baby House, Clinic, and Children’s Programs. Lastly, came our Canadian Rotary friends. They focused their hardworking efforts on making the Refilwe preschool flutter with life through recreating the “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” on the walls, making the wendy house (storage shed) at the Clinic feel brand new, and encouraging all of our programs through gifts and participation. Working together with the Randburg Rotary Club they spent one weekend creating food tunnels for the Refilwe Bophelo Clinic. They had sent ahead of them incredible financial donations enabling us to improve many areas around site, including our preschool, baby home and nursery. The compassion, drive, and love of this team impacted our entire community to have a soft spot forever in our hearts toward Canadians. We are so thankful for all of our International groups. So much is accomplished in such a short amount of time. The energy and passion they bring to our kids, families, and community renew our hopes and energy in the longevity of being here at Refilwe. We love having a global community to rely on and advocate for us in their communities. It makes the world seem a little smaller and relationships mean so much more.