commUN1TY

The Girl Effect

2010-04-26T15:53:00.002+02:00

An incredible video explaining a movement called The Girl Effect. It starts with ONE girl.

Please REBLOG and help us get the word out there! When you educate a young impoverished girl, you WILL change the world.

Don't be a passenger

2010-02-10T20:01:00.000+02:00

"Don't be a passenger, Be part of the change"

For those of you who can't see this video click here

How we live today will continue to have an impact on our future and the future of our environment. In the 4 minutes that you will watch this video many things will change. It's up to you to make that change for the better. Share the video and join in the movement.

My 2 cents.. what a brilliant video, beautifully made, not only is this movement proudly South African, it's fresh and a new, full of hope and passion! I just love the how anyone can really make a change in the world, we all need to be reminded of that! Another thing this video reminds me of one of my favourite quotes from Helen Keller.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

Be inspired and please let it lead to action.

You can follow them on twitter @DontBePassenger

And find out everything you need to on there website: www.dontbeapassenger.com

found this via Cherryflava

Make An Impact

2010-02-06T12:10:00.000+02:00

"Is an instrument really an instrument if it never gets played?"

I was inspired this last Thursday at our bible study, we watched a short, sweet yet remarkable dvd called Impact by Erwin McManus. The quote above is something he said that has stuck with me. He made the point that sometimes we're so afraid of being dented, damaged or hurt that we never really live up to our full potential and make an impact in others lives! I would like to add to that if I may, in my personal experience most of the time those things we worry about denting, damaging and hurting us never really come into play, most things we're afraid of just don't happen as often as we think.

"Is there a way you can make an impact in someone else's life?"

He left us with the verse Matthew 5: 13-16

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Go and let your light shine :)

Now

2010-02-01T21:31:00.000+02:00

Happy Febuary - I hope you have all had a great start to the new month and week.

I was inspired by today's Seth Godin post entitled - Modern procrastination.

"...if you don't challenge the status quo, you can't be made fun of, can't fail, can't be laughed at. And so the resistance looks for ways to appear busy while not actually doing anything."

Are we trying look busy with our lives and putting the important? Today is literally all we have to make a difference in the world! Seth takes it further and says the following:

"Busy does not equal important. Measured doesn't mean mattered."

Maybe it's time to focus on the important and get that done first or maybe you can check your facebook profile again..

Love.Joy.Encouragement.Peace

It's time to act!

2010-01-29T23:03:00.007+02:00

“It is a revolutionary world that we all live in, thus you and your young compatriots everywhere, have had thrust upon you a greater burden of responsibility than any generation that has ever lived.” - Robert F Kennedy.

The time to act is now, all we have is today and today is a gift!
Each day carved out of time just for you, lets hope you make the most of each moment!
Get inspired, get involved.

Love - it's as simple and as difficult as that.

Cycle Tour '09

2009-11-05T11:07:00.002+02:00

Hey guys,

This year we are doing a cycle tour to Kosi Bay and back. You might remember that last year we did a ride from Jburg back to Wesley which brought in R 25,000, largely thanks to Rainbow Chickens. This year we're doing 1,100 km, almost twice the distance of last year, hoping to raise funds for commUN1TY again. We leave on the 22 November, arriving back on the 30 November. Averaging a little over 140 km per day. It's gonna be tough, but always worth it with a noble cause in mind.

frustrations and faith

2009-07-27T18:36:00.000+02:00

the frustrations we are facing seem like mountains but
Matthew 21:21

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

some days it seems we are getting no where other days it seems like nothing can get in our way, Lord if this is your will guide us in our decisions and the plans we make, let them be yours.

but God does send angels :) who come with wisdom and experience.
we have egg laying chickens now and optimistically look forward to providing the children with eggs..

our next mission - getting proper gas cookers and food prep stations out there.

What makes a community?

2009-06-02T09:01:00.003+02:00

@chrisguillebeau with a brilliant relevant post on what makes a community. http://bit.ly/jqZwC

A community is a group of people united through a common struggle with the same stories.

In Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and surrounding areas our struggle is against poverty and injustice. In many places we have visited the struggle underneath the poverty line is a difficult one and that is only what we have seen on the surface. The same stories just with different faces are brought to our attention during our visits and this can get disconcerting but it makes me think of the following story...

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young girl, and that what she was doing was not dancing at all. The young girl was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young girl paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young girl, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young girl bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, she said, "It made a difference for that one."

Thnaks to Loren Eiseley

Hope & Perseverance

2009-05-18T22:04:00.002+02:00

"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5: 11

"Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working."

We just have to keep on going, keep on moving closer towards our goals no matter what challenges we face. We must stay true to our vision, to helping the less fortunate and showing them God's love because if we don't then who will.

Storm-water Runoff

2009-05-12T12:33:00.004+02:00

Thinking Big..
It's a big, dirty world out there. Someone is going to have to clean it up..
This guy wanted to make something that helped the environment, He has found a way to improve cities and the world.
Think big, clean up after yourself first..

http://bit.ly/T4Le1

radiohead's all i need

2009-05-10T22:57:00.002+02:00

radiohead - all i need

this is happening as you watch//
and i bet you can relate more to the image on the left//
somethings cost more than you realise//

CommUN1TY Broadcast at Wesley Methodist Church

2009-05-02T21:22:00.003+02:00

Hi All
May is mission month at Wesley Meth and so the sermons and services will be focused around this very important topic.
CommUN1TY will be presenting this Sunday 3 May at all three service's.
Wish us luck, that we may speak into the hearts of those attending to show how much of God's work has been done and how much more needs to be done.

May God's love be with you..always..

Aerial View of Zinakekele

2009-04-28T11:35:00.007+02:00

I did visit Zinakekele this last week end. I was just a few hundred feet above you. I took these photys from up top. The little community looks pretty cool from here. I heard the visit was rather awesome at ground level too, so well done to everybody who went.

a shade of blue - 25/04/09

2009-04-26T17:29:00.005+02:00

as promised via twitter here is an update of our visit to zinakekele yesterday,
a shade of blue, not necessarily a bad shade but a shade regardless,
left church around 9am or so, all 12 of us, a manageable number, not too many, not too few.. just right:) we took out blessed hearts and hopes, a guitar, groceries and about a ton of easter eggs:) ok not a ton but close:) ok not close but there were a lot of them! we shared the message of easter with all the kids and had an awesome time in the sun playing all sorts of games, was great to see MJ again! she is doing alright still battling with her leg but we have given her a mission to get it sorted our as soon as possible:)but we're going to try make it easy for her. we spoke about accountablity and food management, MJ now feeds about 30 or so kids breakfast and dinner daily and between 80 & 100 people lunch daily:) she is an angel with out wings! our next visit is going to be on the 23rd of May looking forward to it! will keep you guys updated!

everyone in a circle//why did Jesus die for us and why the easter eggs

a little princess trying to open her easter egg

what you looking at??

enjoying an egg of chocolate goodness

we are all made clean by the same cross

conversations on giving

2009-04-24T13:33:00.004+02:00

it seems all of my conversations of late have been around the topic of giving, every aspect of it, giving time, giving money, from the reasons behind the act to its foundation in scripture to making it a practical daily action for people who have more than enough to give to the less fortunate, is it a perception that needs to be change in our minds? is it someones fault? today i met so many people in need, i drove past some i should have stopped and helped.. went to an amazing food bank and soup kitchen today, the give without question if you're in need they're there for you. made me think about how i give//about how to live//what are we giving?

paying the poor

2009-04-20T16:49:00.007+02:00

intrigued by a recent post, if you pay people to be poor, you'll never run out of poor people by dan hannan

"this big idea is very simply stated. Poverty is not simply an absence of money. rather, it is bound up with a whole set of other circumstances: lack of qualifications, demoralisation, family break-up, substance abuse, fatherlessness. it follows that you do not end poverty by giving money to the poor.. ..only when you tackle poverty holistically will you facilitate meaningful improvement."

if we really want to help we need to make sure the money we give is being used to change a situation for a group of people and not to enable the poverty to continue, it comes down to a level of commitment.. how much are you willing to commit when you give money? does the transaction end when the money leaves your hands or do you ensure it makes a meaningful change?

i think of it like this>
what rog(return on gift) can you give to the poor person? will the gift keep them where they are or will it help them improve their situation? where does your giving start and where does it end?

Gandhi - “Poverty, is the worst form of violence.”

abundance

2009-04-19T17:09:00.003+02:00

if you are not generous with a meager income, you will never be generous with abundance. harold nye

harold hit the nail on the head there, another great quote to get us thinking, constantly evaluating how much we give, if you are reading this post, this line right now, you have abundance/surplus.. what are you going to do with all of it?

may we never forget that feeling of giving, that internal smile of joy..

wisdom

2009-04-17T15:43:00.001+02:00

Live Simply So That Others May Simply Live ~ Ghandi

I am 1

2009-04-14T10:33:00.001+02:00

“I am one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something; I will not refuse to do something I can do.” - Helen Keller

a perspective on giving

2009-04-13T18:13:00.002+02:00

giving and its three stages visited..

what stops you from giving?

http://tiny.cc/givegivegive

lost generation

2009-04-05T23:21:00.002+02:00

pretty cool found this on i-heart.org

commUN1TY on twitter

2009-04-04T09:16:00.003+02:00

we are on twitter..
have found it brilliant connecting to other npo's
there have been some insightful nuggets of information shared by the people and organisations we are following

some of are favourites on twitter are//

http://twitter.com/nonprofitorgs
http://twitter.com/acumenfund
http://twitter.com/Everywun
http://twitter.com/therescue

want to be apart of our conversation??
you can follow commUN1TY @ http://twitter.com/commUN1TY

new mission complete

2009-04-01T12:29:00.002+02:00

well done everyone! it is now afternoon and our mission is complete we have managed to support the sloth bear for a whopping 5 hours, raising awareness and Hope for the little creatures:)

thank you everyone - you can now carry on with your lives.

new mission

2009-04-01T07:14:00.003+02:00

it's a new month and therefore commun1ty has decided on a new mission,
something close to all of our hearts.

the sloth bear foundation

is a battling organisation that protects and preserves the endangered sloth bears and their habitats from destruction.

we feel that this is logically the next step for commun1ty.
shame, some of the bears are forced to eat nuts, fruit and small insects.
this morning marks a change in the way commun1ty views Sloth bears.

just the other day we heard of a story we a sloth bear was separated from it's mother as it was taking from a zoo in mexico and placed into a a small forest in south america. we need to be apart of the solution.

more updates coming soon.

Pray for Hope

2009-03-30T23:18:00.002+02:00

this week we pray for Hope
Hope for our country, for the people won't ever read this
Hope for our generation of youth who want to help the less fortunate
Hope for those who are last, the broken.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” // Albert Einstein

the one campaign

2009-03-24T21:46:00.002+02:00

another brilliant find thanks to twitter!

the one campaign

a campaign committed to fight extreme poverty and preventable diseases

go on show your support//you can help change the world

Hoongle

2009-03-22T21:39:00.003+02:00

this won't cost you a thing but you can help feed someone in need
i don't google anymore.. i hoongle.. yes i know its weird to say but hey
its the best idea i have seen on the web in ages!!

www.hoongle.com

in support of the UN World Food Program

Are You Chiken?

2009-03-18T08:58:00.003+02:00

This Saturday morning a few of us are making the trip up to Zinekekele to finish up the chicken coop. We'll be taking up laying mash as well as 15 hens that can produce our goodies. We'll also be touching up the coop, ensuring that when we leave in the arvo, they will have a fully functioning coop, and hopefully not long after that we will have the arrival of the first egg. AWESOME AND EXCITING!

thought

2009-03-17T20:45:00.000+02:00

it was freezing today
a shock of cold weather smothered our small suburb
i was cold inside and i had plenty of clothes on and plenty of food
i wonder how everyone is doing out there tonight
all those without enough clothes or food

is any it good just to sit and think about it and then
forget them before i climb into my warm bed

winter is coming soon
how can you help someone in need?

pray for MJ

2009-03-16T22:20:00.002+02:00

please can we all pray for Mary-Jane (MJ)//
this year she has been battling with her right leg//
we are not 100% sure of the cause but she has been treated and unfortunately she is still in pain//
please pray for her leg and general health as we feel she is the beacon of Hope out there the others cling to//
looking forward to seeing her this weekend//
thank you

Say Hello to a Homeless Stranger... and Make Their Day!

2009-03-11T20:53:00.005+02:00

We all function with this perception that we're not allowed to talk to people we don't know. In particular, I am talking about people who are homeless. How many of us when we see a homeless person outside a shop or take-away place just completely ignore them as if they don't exist. Stop for a second and ask why this is so!

So here's the challenge! Next time you come across a homeless person... stop! Take the time to acknowledge their existence. Then say hello. Ask them their name maybe. See if you can assist in any way, maybe buy them some food when you're getting your own in the shop. Most importantly, share some of God's love with them. We are no better than them, and God made us all equal, regardless of circumstance.

2 minutes of your time could easily result in that stranger you just spoke to believing in the concept of hope for a better world once more. And trust me, it will brighten up your day too and the simple answer as to why - you are embracing the concept that all people possess a very special thing called value, which God has placed on everyone's life.

So go on, do it... because we are 1!

The Chicken Complex

2009-03-06T15:54:00.005+02:00

The most recent development at CommUN1TY is the construction of a chicken coop. Sarah M and Lauren H came up with idea after being disturbed upon hearing about the lack of protein that the Zinekekele community receives. They recruited the help of Ron Bennett, along with Stuart Nixon, Paul Hellberg and Matt Holmes. Many thanks goes out to Ron for the use of his equipment and his help with planning the project. In just one week the coop was built. Last Saturday (28 Feb), the coop was brought to Zinekekele and assembled. All we need now is the chickens, which will get brought up shortly. Zinikekele will benefit in the form of selling the eggs, as well as eating them themselves.

Thank you Lol and Se for your initiative and tight deadlines.

commun1ty core & this year

2009-03-02T20:09:00.005+02:00

the commun1ty core or the 'cc' has a job on its hands..
in it's first financial year we raised just over R60 000 rand, which for a relatively small npo was amazing and just proves that the Lord wants this to succeed because He provided for us big time in so many ways..
we have a goal of topping that and getting closer to the figure of R100 000 this year, we are so thankful to everyone who contributed, every rand counted and was spent on the less fortunate, we have made a lasting effect on the commun1ty of Zinakekele..

we have loads of ideas and the support of an awesome church so this year is going to be a year for 'the least of these' and we pray we are good stewards of all the love gifts and donations..

we live in hope & lead with love

the cc

challenged

2009-02-26T21:57:00.002+02:00

at our church we have been challenged by how much we give..
how much time do we give..
how much do we give to each other..
how much do we give to those in need..
are we doing what is best for our selves or what is best for each other..

"for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
luke 12: 34

we know

2009-02-23T20:14:00.002+02:00

we know what we have to do and we are going to do it//
we have been blessed with gifts
now it's up to us to use them to the best
of our ability to serve our brothers and sisters in need//
they wait so patiently for us..

40 days

2009-02-22T17:33:00.005+02:00

40 days of water...

this is a challenge involving sacrifice and giving.

Thanks to
40days
for the seed.

the chalenge:

that is 40 days of...

more info coming soon...

...

2009-02-17T08:43:00.001+02:00

2009

2009-02-15T22:38:00.000+02:00

2009 is going to be huge for commun1ty
just you wait and see..
in 2009 focus is the key..

there is a website coming so brace yourselves!

the love alliance

2008-12-26T18:00:00.000+02:00

The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river//Ross Perot

i-heart

2008-11-25T08:17:00.002+02:00

we all have a part to paly
not one day
someday
but here
now
in this moment
everyone can do something
because everyone can love
across the earth
with hearts as one
we're all in this together.

www.i-heart.org

Christmas challenge

2008-11-23T21:57:00.015+02:00

it all started with a challenge..
she was asked what are you going to do this Christmas for others?

so she decided to create Christmas packs, filled with love and kindness..
with some help from family and friends she raised some money..
built a list of children to bless..
set a goal and got to work..

with help from commUN1TY, Mac Donalds and all the donations she recieved, she collected and bought all of the goodies.

spending hours packing the bags with toys, sweets and treats, taking care to label all the packs either for boys or girls and then finally packing them all together ready for the 23rd she was ready to go out and do something for someone else.

here is the final product..

a full boot..

gathered together..

patiently waiting..

a smile makes it all worth it..

enjoying together..

UN1TY-all as one..

she is Sam..
she is in grade 6..
and Sam has a question for you..

what are you going to do for others this Christmas?

living oceans apart

2008-11-14T11:06:00.000+02:00

commUN1TY thanks Delme Linscott for his support through the sale of his book Living Oceans Apart.

Visit
www.livingingrace.co.za

the 4th

2008-11-05T20:05:00.010+02:00

light enters this dimly lit hut on a tuesday morning, the light is a sign of Hope for us as we look out past the silhouette at the door, with so much done and so much to do we are thankful and excited about the future for South Africa, for the future of silhouettes that fill doorways in all of the neglected villages of our beautiful land.

plastering is going really well, thanks to Bongani, he is on site now and is doing a great job, we look forward to future building with him.

decieving but beneath the surface lies the treasure of potatoes.

MJ(Mary-Jane) tending to the cabbages, she is awesome.

we go out most weekends, it's the smiles that bring us back again and again.

today was the first stage in planning a new building, it will be funded by a private company, it will be our first and hopefully not last. If you would like to get involved please contact us.

the life of a commUN1TY member

2008-11-02T22:20:00.001+02:00

We make a living by what we get,
but we make a life by what we give.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965)

if

2008-11-01T11:47:00.000+02:00

If not us..
who?
If not now..
when?

committed people

2008-10-27T20:55:00.000+02:00

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” -

Margaret Mead

today we went with potatoes

2008-10-18T20:06:00.002+02:00

sorry no pics.. there will be some next week..
building progress is slow at times but enthusiasm is never lacking.
Mary-Jane is awesome, a hard worker and fill of Hope and Joy.
I'm so glad she is out there, she is a pillar, I feel others lean on.

They now have a vegetable garden, pumpkins growing and um..
A huge field of potatoes! The fruit trees are looking good,
I saw some baby apricots there today, a sign of Hope for the future.

Bicycle anyone?

2008-09-09T22:55:00.002+02:00

Hey guys,

We are looking for a bicycle for Daniel, Russel's mate from zim, to help him be a bit more mobile.

If you have a bicycle and are looking to give it away or sell it please let us know asap!

Many thanks...

God provides... Believe it!!!

2008-09-06T22:42:00.002+02:00

God is awesome, full stop!

After just about using up all the money in the building fund, a question of "where to from here" was asked.

God answered that and we are ready (and able) to carry on the building... hope you guys are ready!

Thank you so much for those of you who have contributed already for this month! Tomorrow is the 7th so it's not too late to get your contribution in, if you already haven't done so. It is through selfless giving like we are witnessing now that we are able to make to make a difference in our commUN1TY!

Big thanks from the team!!

The Roof

2008-08-28T22:31:00.005+02:00

Hey all,
Some pics of the new roof at Zinakekele:

Not quite done, but it's getting there!

We give God the glory for making this happen!!

a roof

2008-08-17T12:03:00.000+02:00

having a sleep in...

strange

waking to a cloudy day..

different

a piece of toast and penut butter..

yummy

a prayer for strength and traveling mercies..

needed

an hours drive to Zinakekele..

necessary

spending the day to put a roof on a building..

priceless

Thank you Lord for able bodies.

Thank you Lord for hearts keen to do your will.

Thank you Lord for the roof you built.

Thank you Lord for the Hope that roof brings.

Gift of the Givers gets involved with commUN1TY

2008-07-24T23:03:00.002+02:00

commUn1TY would like to say a huge thank you to Gift of the Givers for their awesome donation of 100 blankets to the needy orphans at Zinakekele, delivered to them on the 23 July 2008!

The warmth of your hearts has now spread to the warmth of their beds, for which everyone in our commUN1TY is hugely grateful for!

This is our poverty

2008-07-20T12:11:00.003+02:00

Commun1ty is alive, it's only a few months old and already has done so much. The enthusiasm of it's leadership has lead to monthly working visits to an inspirational informal orphanage, Zinakekele, in the heart of KZN, South Africa.

A wise old man once said..

"Put the poor first"

It's simple enough, don't you think. I don't think there is a greater call to action in our country.