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MESsage from the CEO A Call to Partnership – Holding Fast to the Rock in a Season of   Recovery Dear Friend of MES, I greet you in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour. In December, I reflected on a quote that deeply resonated with me from Charles  Spurgeon: “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” Over the past 39 years    at MES, each wave has carried us closer to the unshakable Rock of Ages, our Lord and Savior. Little did I know then how relevant that truth would become for MES in the months to follow. Over the past five months, MES has weathered an unexpected storm. Anonymous, unsubstantiated allegations surfaced that called for an independent investigation. I’m thankful to confirm that the investigation has been concluded, and I have been reinstated with the full support of the Board. My heart remains fully committed to serving this organisation and its mission, just as I have faithfully done over the past 31 years in different roles. I will share some lessons learned on this journey over the coming months. Yet, as with any storm, there has been an impact. Operational momentum was disrupted. Confidence was shaken. Critical decisions were delayed. Despite this, our teams continued to serve, driven by their calling and unwavering love for the vulnerable communities we walk alongside. I have never been prouder of the team. It is an honour to serve alongside them. Now, we face the urgent task of stabilising MES. To restore systems, retain key staff, and ensure continuity of services, we need to raise R3 million in the weeks ahead. These funds will be used to: Rebuild organisational stability and capacity Retain frontline workers and programme continuity Strengthen financial compliance and audit readiness Restore momentum after this period of turbulence We believe God is still writing the story of MES — and He remains our Rock through it all. If you are able to support us at this time, whether financially or by introducing us to others who can stand in the gap, we would be deeply grateful. Thank you for walking this journey with us — for your prayers, your belief in the work we do, and your continued partnership in transforming lives. You are welcome to contact me directly if you have any questions. With humility and hope, Leona Pienaar Chief Executive Officer MES (Mould Empower Serve) Ending a successful WinterHope Campaign 2025 WinterHope is an initiative that supports our most vulnerable communities during the harsh winter months. For over two decades, this campaign has brought South Africans together through acts of compassion and generosity. In a proud partnership with PEN (Pretoria), Tower of Hope (Bloemfontein), His Hands (Durban), and MES (Johannesburg, Kempton Park, Gqeberha, and Cape Town). With over 150 collection points nationwide, the campaign ensures that every donation benefits a local community in need. For more information or to find collection ...

RSG (Radio Sonder Grense) and Virseker Insurance recently wrapped up their “Bakgat” rusk competition, which unexpectedly evolved into a powerful display of generosity, benefiting communities across South Africa. By declaring 13 November as National Rusk Day, the event attracted thousands of bakers from across the country, eager to demonstrate their expertise and contribute to celebrating local baking talent. This initiative not only emphasised creativity but also cultivated a strong sense of community and goodwill, as RSG and Virseker turned the competition into a meaningful act of charity. A collective effort of bakers nationwide The competition, designed to highlight the country’s finest rusks, received an overwhelming response, with over 1,510 entries and more than 36,000 rusks submitted, each meticulously crafted and packaged. After narrowing down the participants to the top 72 and then to the top 5, Marthle Smith from Nelson Mandela Bay was crowned the ultimate “Bakgat” rusk champion on 13 November. Baking for a noble cause: Turning surplus into assistance The success of the competition left RSG with an unanticipated surplus of rusks. Rather than letting the additional batches go unused, they decided to donate them to MES (Mould Empower Serve), a non-profit organisation running shelters and support programmes across various South African cities, including Johannesburg, Kempton Park, Gqeberha, and Cape Town. Leona, CEO of MES, expressed her appreciation for the contribution, noting that the rusks would be a welcome addition to their annual Packaged Love Campaign. This seasonal initiative delivers essential resources to vulnerable families and individuals during the holiday season. Leona remarked, “This is a wonderful opportunity to bless many individuals and families with delicious rusks during the festive season.” The rusks provided by RSG and Virseker played a pivotal role in enhancing the Packaged Love Campaign, ensuring that many individuals could enjoy homemade treats at a time when they might have otherwise gone without.  A day of thoughtful giving On 4 December, the MES Youth Leadership team, joined by Development and Marketing Officer, Brigitte Potgieter, visited the RSG offices to prepare the rusks for distribution. The rusks were carefully packed and dispatched to various MES programmes in Johannesburg, Gqeberha and Cape Town, including Early Childhood Development Centres, after-school initiatives, shelters, and projects supporting at-risk youth and families. The donation incited gratitude throughout the MES network. The rusks provided a much-needed gesture of care, bringing joy and nourishment to many during a time of year often associated with hardship. Thousands of rusks travelled across the country, offering comfort and support to those in need. A community united: Strengthening supportive bondsThe partnership between RSG, Virseker, and MES highlights the strength of community-driven efforts. What started as a baking competition transformed into a valuable opportunity to share resources and positively impact the lives of South Africans in need. Through this collaboration, creativity and a sense of community came together to make a meaningful difference, with the simple act of baking and sharing rusks spreading joy ...

Several organisations serving the people experiencing homelessness conducted a pilot point-in-time count of individuals experiencing rough sleeping on the night of November 13, 2024. This initiative, organized by U-turn, Streetscapes, MES, New Hope SA, the Haven, and VRCID, marks the beginning of regular counts aimed at understanding and ultimately reducing homelessness in the city. Read the Press Release here

MESsage from the Leona Pienaar, CEO of Mould Empower Serve I remember the first time we requested to become partners of KFC Add Hope. We felt right at home because we shared the same vision, passion, and heart for vulnerable children and families in South Africa. Since then, we've had so many beautiful moments, from the R2 artwork to the cycle tour through South Africa and one of our beneficiaries, Tebogo Mabye, being one of the faces of the campaign. Today, Tebogo is a contestant on MasterChef South Africa! We are celebrating KFC's 15th anniversary of Add Hope! Add Hope is KFC's initiative that encourages the nation's collective effort to fight malnutrition and hunger in South Africa. Through KFC contributions and your R2 donations, Add Hope feeds over 30 million nutritious meals to underprivileged children across South Africa. We are grateful that MES has been one of their 130 non-profit partners for 12 years. Your R2 donation helps us support our preschoolers, learners, and families at risk by providing much-needed nutritious meals and groceries to struggling families. We are deeply thankful to KFC and every individual who contributes to the campaign and adds hope to those in need. From MES, a heartfelt happy birthday to KFC Add Hope and all the staff who diligently request the public to contribute. I want to assure the public from a beneficiary's perspective that this is one of the most ethical, well-managed campaigns we have been involved in during my 30 years in the sector. Your contribution matters! Thank you, KFC Add Hope, for your innovation, commitment, and care! We had an amazing time celebrating KFC Add Hope's 15th birthday! To mark the occasion, our afterschool programme managers, co-ordinators and children visited local sites to express our gratitude to the KFC branches and their incredible staff for their dedication and hard work towards our programmes.