Firstly, let me say a BIG THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who responded to our Christmas appeal and donated so generously. This year we were able to have the best Christmas party so far, mostly because for the first time we did not have to struggle to find enough money to pay for what we needed and wanted for the Children. It was a hot summer day, and we gave them Fruit Salad and Ice cream, and a gift pack of toys and sweets. We had a "Mother Christmas" who gave out the presents and helped with the face painting. We were also able to hire a Jumping Castle, which the children really enjoyed!

So, from all of us, thank you to all of you who made this possible!

Now, I would like to just fill you in on our plans for 2009! Because of the growing support for the Children's Foundation, we have been able to appoint a trainee "Community Developer", who will be working for the Foundation and will be our "manager" in the Community. This is Dominic Papier, who is the son of our organizer, Wilma Papier. Wilma and I are the two members of the board, and Dominic will effectively be working for us. He will begin the first six months of the year by completing a course in HIV/aids counselling, and will work for us on the basis of 2 hours a day. We have been fortunate enought to have been donated premises to use for this purpose. The Tourism Initiative of Sir Lowry's Pass has allowed us to use the "Old Post Office" building for our classes with the children and as an office for Dominic. This is a lovely building, and the pictures above were taken in the grounds of the building. So, we are establishing a real presence in the community and will be able to work more effectively.

The Course Fees for Dominic's Counselling Course have been jointly sponsored by Lynne in Canada and Barbara in Germany. Thank You! We appreciate your suppport as we help to develop this young man so that he can be a role model and support in his community. Dominic began his work for us by taking over the organization and management of the Children's group. From April, I will be travelling and Wilma be will giving birth to her second child, so Dominic will be managing the project at this time. Here he is working with children as we harvest the vegetables in our Organic Vegetable Garden.

The children all enjoyed being part of the harvesting expeience!

Even the littlest one joined in :

And here Dominic and Jason share some of the vegetables with "Auntie" Rose, who waters the garden for us.

Part of Dominic's "training" was to also learn how to manage and maintain the Food program. So, here he is looking a little uncertain about the whole business of feeding children. But, he did well under the watchful eye of "mom" Wilma, and I know he will manage well in the future!

So, for this year, we will be running our usual Food Program and classes for the children, as well as maintaining the vegetable garden. Dominic will be running our Community Development office, and will be offering hiv/aids counselling and running our food parcel program. We are also talking to some people about the possibility of being part of a Healing Center in our community. The land chosen for this intiative was the exact area where I did a light and sound ceremony with crystals, with my British friends, Bea and David, two years ago. I feel that this land is blessed, and I would like to ask any of you who feel motivated to do so, to hold the light for this project to manifest on this sacred land for the highest good of the Community. I will be bringing you more news of this in the course of the year.

So, we have much to do to keep on with the running of our programs, and this year I am hoping to buy a vehicle and get driver's licenses for Wilma and Dominic, as I am still the only one with a driver's license, and that means that when I am here I run around a lot, and when I am not, nothing happens until I get back. So, we need this to happen in this year.

It is with deep gratitude and humility that I thank all of you who have donated to our work, and I also request that, if you feel motivated to do so, that you continue to support the work that the Starchild Children's Foundation does here in Africa. The Children of Africa Project needs your help...and we thank you!

with love and blessings from all of us

Celia.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO OUR PROJECT, PLEASE CLICK HERE.