School leaving youth

Hlabi’s Journey of Faith, Community, and Self-Discovery

Hlabi’s Journey of Faith, Community, and Self-Discovery

19 year old Hlabi, from Hillbrow, has been engaged with MES since his preschool days, starting with Bible clubs and the Kids’ Week programme. Having grown up around MES, he didn’t face major challenges before discovering the organisation but has found immense value in the services offered. Through community service and Bible intervention, Hlabi learned the importance of unity and the power of the Word of God. The Bible taught him how to distinguish between truth and falsehood, while the community service aspect helped him realise the value of helping one another over selfish intentions. MES’s influence empowered him to overcome personal doubts, uncovering talents he didn’t know he had, such as dancing and offering therapy. Hlabi’s highlights of his time with MES include how the organisation has shaped him and countless others, fostering a spirit of ubuntu and giving back to the community. Currently studying towards a Science degree at the University of Johannesburg, his future plans are to be successful, inspire others, and give back to the world in a positive way. When asked if he would recommend MES to others, Hlabi emphatically says, "Ruthlessly." He believes that MES’s interventions will continue to impact his life for years to come, helping him grow and thrive in his journey. #MouldEmpowerServe #ChangingtheHeartoftheCity #YouthDevelopment #Schoolleavingyouth #StoriesofGrace #CommunityImpact

Unveiling hope through dance: The MES Dance4aPurpose programme

Unveiling hope through dance: The MES Dance4aPurpose programme

A look at the MES Dance4aPurpose and its latest production Why was the MES Dance 4 Purpose programme established, and how did the idea come about? The MES Dance4aPurpose programme was born from our street performances during our annual 10 Days of Hope outreach. We noticed a significant opportunity to extend our reach within the community and provide a message of hope to more kids and youth. The programme also serves a dual purpose: it keeps children engaged and off the streets on Saturdays, providing them with valuable skills and boosting their confidence. We’ve been running this programme since 2011, and its impact has been profoundly positive. This year will be our 12th production. Do the children who participate in the program have prior dance experience, or are they taught specifically for this production? Most of the children who join our program come with little to no prior dance experience. Some may have a natural talent, but the majority are here to learn something new. Whether or not they pursue dance professionally, they gain a sense of belonging and mastery through their participation. We aim to support those with exceptional talent who wish to make dance a career by connecting them with the right opportunities. Additionally, we aspire to expand our program to include various forms of art and performance. Can you give us a brief teaser about this year's production, "When Darkness Comes"? This year’s musical, "When Darkness Comes," delves into the themes of storms—both those we create ourselves and those that come regardless of our actions. It explores how we hold onto faith through these challenges. The production also examines the roles of earthly and heavenly fathers. The story follows Mpho, first as a teenager grappling with unexpected life changes and later as an adult facing life's storms. While the musical addresses weighty topics such as teenage pregnancy and the loss of a child, its central message remains one of hope. Who would enjoy watching this production? Our production is designed to resonate with teenagers, addressing their specific challenges, but it’s crafted to be enjoyable and meaningful for audiences of all ages. While the themes are particularly relevant to young adults, the message of hope and resilience is universal. 📍 Location: MES BG Hall, corner of Pietersen and Banket Street, Hillbrow 📅 Dates and Times: August 30: 16:00 and 18:30 August 31: 13:00 and 16:00 🎫 Entry Fee: Free of charge or a R10 donation

Neo’s unwavering determination

Neo’s unwavering determination

Raised by a single parent and living in Hillbrow, Neo's journey has been marked by resilience and determination. After completing high school, she faced numerous financial obstacles, as her mother's income was insufficient to support further education. However, her unwavering determination did not let these challenges deter her from her aspirations. She discovered MES through a high school friend who talked about an event named Kids Week during their 11th grade. Intrigued, she attended and became more interested in MES. In her final year of high school, the same friend introduced her to the Joshua Youth Leadership programme, prompting her to apply. Her involvement with MES, particularly the Joshua programme, has been transformative. Living with 13 strangers during the programme marked a significant phase in her life, facilitating her adjustment to a new environment and fostering spiritual growth. MES extended its support by awarding Maile a bursary, which enabled her to commence her studies at the University of Johannesburg. This support enabled her education and her continued connection with MES, as she continues to volunteer while she seeks permanent employment.

Meet Senzo, a MES outreach worker from Cape Town

Meet Senzo, a MES outreach worker from Cape Town

Meet Senzo, a MES outreach worker from Cape Town "It humbles me, each day I meet people who have degrees and who wanted to be something in life, it happened to them." - Senzo Madida, 21 Outreach Worker for MES Cape Town. Outreach with MES entails going out on the street to find out where homeless people sleep, and to build relationships with them. The goal is to network and inform them about the services that we have to offer. "I go out and see where they are living and see why they are there", says Senzo, a MES Outreach Worker in Durbanville, who sees roughly 45-50 homeless people each week. According to Senzo, building relationships with those in need is key to getting them to trust you enough to accept help. To achieve this, Senzo works closely with officials at the City of Cape Town. As soon as they inform Senzo about new tents being pitched by the homeless, he accompanies them to where the need is, offering services and support to the homeless. "Most importantly, I build trust. We need to go on the street and tell those in need what we can do to help them. They need to be able to trust us enough to let us help them. Usually, we judge people without understanding what led someone into that situation", says Senzo. "Usually, the first thing that people need is an identity document, so that they can get a job. That's one of the first things that I assist them with", he continued. According to Senzo, anecdotally, almost all of the people who are on the streets in his area are from other parts of the country. Usually, they came to Cape Town in search of better opportunities. However, they don’t have any friends or family here, which leaves them with no support structure. In doing outreach, Senzo tells, you also come across those who were transferred to a prison in Cape Town from other parts of the country. Upon release, they're either too ashamed to return home, or their families flat-out reject them. Their chances of getting a job are exceedingly low because employers don't take kindly to criminal records. In his experience, Senzo has seen a cycle emerge among those released onto the street after having been in prison: "They live on the street for two weeks before being introduced to drugs, after that, the likelihood of them getting off the streets is very low indeed", Senzo elaborated. "There are also those who want to go back to prison because, after a month on the streets, they find that life was better in prison, so they commit other offences to go back", he added. For most people, getting off the street is very difficult. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication from both the outreach and social worker, and the homeless person in question, to make it happen. Senzo went on to share what the most profound impact that ...