Creating Safe Spaces for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

The Christmas season is a time for goodwill and sharing. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the festivities due to challenging circumstances. At Ammish Community Development, our primary goal is to create environments where orphans and vulnerable children feel safe, valued, and dignified. Our Christmas parties aim to make them feel loved and to share the goodwill of the festive season in a joyous manner.

The main purpose of our Christmas party is to create a space where Orphans and vulnerable children feel safe, important and dignified.

Masishaba Mlotshwa, Coordinator

2024 Christmas Celebrations

In 2024, we hosted Christmas celebrations for our beneficiaries at Ammish grounds in Soweto on December 1st and at Poloko in Mpumalanga on December 8th. These events were dedicated to orphans, disadvantaged, and vulnerable children. Over 200 presents were distributed to beneficiaries aged 2-17 years old during this giving season.

Gratitude to Our Generous Donors

We are deeply grateful to Andreas Selmeczi and friends across Europe, Philipp and Lilith from Germany, and Miss Pecks from Acudeo College for providing us with funds and donations. Their generosity profoundly blessed our beneficiaries. There are not enough words to express our gratitude. We pray that every person who took the time to make donations and funds reach us, and the beneficiaries from Soweto to Mpumalanga, are blessed for your generosity, love, and kindness.

Thank you so much for being a blessing to Ammish Community Development. Your support has made a significant impact on the lives of the children we serve. We look forward to continuing our mission with your invaluable assistance. Here are some pictures from the event:

Want to see what we have achieved the previous years?
– Christmas Archives

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Christmas is a yearly celebration marking Jesus Christ’s Birth. It is observed on the 25th of December as a cultural and religious celebration among a lot of people all over the world. It is a time that brings heart warmth: so let every Ammish Community Development beneficiary be joyous and take part in the giving.
Christmas is celebrated in different ways. This year Ammish Community Development celebrated early with issuing of shoe boxes packed with clothing items, stationery, toys, toiletry and goodies on the 25th November 2023. The distribution of Shoeboxes has been going on for 6 years as a culture to issue out presents to the disadvantaged, orphaned and vulnerable at Ammish Community Development.

The highlight is not only handing presents but also to think about those who won’t be having Christmas presents, we believe every child deserves a gift for Christmas.

Masishaba Mlotshwa

We managed to distribute +300 shoeboxes to different places in Naledi, White City Jabavu and Mpumalanga. It was an honour to be there for this amazing event dressed in Santa suit and be able to give away so much joy and happiness.

Thank You

The significance of this initiative goes beyond the act of gift-giving: it symbolizes a collective effort to ensure that every child, irrespective of their circumstances, experiences the magic and warmth of Christmas. It is a poignant reminder that the true essence of the season lies in fostering compassion, empathy, and solidarity. This year’s event was a resounding success, made possible by the dedicated efforts of many people.

That’s why I would like to extent a warm Thank You to all distinguished people and Ammish Community Development team for the preparations and packaging to make this day such a memorable one for the children.
I would like to thank Andreas and friends from Germany and Mr Sithole from Engen garage (Soweto) for their generous donations.
Last but not least: Big gratitude goes to Mrs Palesa Hlubi, Mrs Refilwe Motloung, Mrs Keamogetswe Makhaya, Mrs Manuella Jardin, Miss Bulelwa Mgemani, Miss Busi Mosiouwa and Miss Tlhalefang Matlhare for pledging and making this day a success.
As we bath in the warmth of the holiday season, let us carry the spirit of giving forward, creating lasting memories and sowing seeds of hope that will endure throughout the year. Merry Christmas to all, and may the joy of this season resonate in our hearts and communities alike.

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You have literally blown us away.

It a lovely day as we are approaching Christmas at Ammish Community Development. Thank you for choosing our Organization! Today we recognize our friends: On the 14th December 2022 “Miss Bacholeret South Africa” top 16 ( Tsakane) and One Heart Project (OHP) and Miss Koketso Lehabe (on the 20th December 2022) for donating grocery for our Orphans and beneficiaries at large at Ammish.

The passion and care of people like you keep us going, and we hope to make you proud how this food and sanitary pads to be distributed monthly to benefit local families and our beneficiaries who rely on your generosity so they can access nutritious food throughout.

“As the holiday seasons brings cash flowing to retail business, Non-Profits can get it only from the action of hands.”

— Masishaba Mlotshwa, Director

Thank you again for your support and kindness!

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On the 5th November from 9am to 14hrs we hosted a High tea party at KOL CAFE. Like 2021 we gathered women supported by their gentlemen who are entrepreneurs from different brands, beauty, hair products, fashion, wine testing, small businesses. They all came together promoting awareness in the name of fundraising for Ammish Community Development. This shall help to continue sustaining our programmes on the ground seeing that they are making a difference in the community at large. A make-up master class was also added to keep our guests engaged. They got to see and feel the products that they were encouraged to buy.

Speaker of the afternoon: Yvette Ratshikhopa

Yvette Ratshikhopa as our Guest Speaker, she is an award winning international life & leadership coach and Author. She gave a good lesson on healing from childhood/ past traumas,parenting, setting life goals and actioning/execute our visions and plans.

The main objective of this high tea, was to give Female entrepreneurs a chance to put their Name out there for a good cause/purpose in uplifting our beneficiaries for future outcomes because not everyone is academically gifted, we also need to consider our skills gifted one’s.

Impact and Outcome

The event made an impact, we achieved what we hoped for. Turnout was great as ladies and gentlemen came from all over soweto to support our initiative. Youth and young adults also actively supported the event.
And for those looking to recreate memorable sixties outfits still influencing fashion today: Our guests came in fancy dresses and suits that reminded us where we coming from way back. Sixties fashion never seem to go out of style whether you going on a party or costume party. They all came with few basic items, leaving accessories to imagination and creativity, with versatile costumes and unique memorable 2022 High Tea of its own kind. Thank you to all who participated and made the event a success!

Hosted by Masishaba Elizabeth Mlotshwa (Managing Director)
And Miss Keamogetswe Makhaya (planting a seed and giving back to AMMISH)

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On Mandela Day, South African citizens are encouraged to spend 67 minutes of their time in service to others in need. These 67 minutes are in appreciation of the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting for justice, equality, and human rights for all. This encompasses the years he worked as a human rights lawyer, the years he spent in prison, the years of his presidency, and the years after that when he remained an icon and example for international human rights.  

Keagometswe Makhaya chose to spend 67 Minutes with Ammish Community Development and celebrate her birthday with our beneficiaries. But let’s hear what she has to say:

“My name is Keamogetswe from White City.
I grew up in meadowlands under the guidance of my pertanal grandma, I lost both my parents while I was still in school. My mother, when I was 8 and my father when I was 16. I grew up depressed and bitter, but had no one to vent to. I was so young and did not understand why I was feeling like, I couldn’t put a name to my condition.

I ended up finding joy, happiness and a voice with my peers. The streets was were I could be free, I was an alcoholic and was introduced to drugs like weed, codeine syrup and pills. I’ve spent all my 20s in the streets with friends, celebrated my birthdays with friends and alcohol.

I was blessed with a daughter, that’s when I quit my life style. When I celebrated my 30th I chose to do something totally different, I was grateful to God that I am still alive. I reflected on the fact that my mother never reached 30, therefore it was a huge milestone.

I am grateful for the life I am living , I plan to help teenagers who are in the same situation and help them speak up about how they feel.

I chose Ammish center to celebrate my birthday with them. I was celebrating life and I wanted to teach them that life can be hard, but it is worth celebrating and giving back.

Keagometswe Makhaya

It felt so good seeing their smile and the gratitude in their eyes, it was very fulfilling. I look forward to re-visit the center more, since it’s near my house.”

Thank you very much for your words and your support with the kids!

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Every Human deserves access to fresh and healthy food – which is why at Ammish we are helping and ensuring that all Families can stay happy and healthy. 2020 was a year with great challenges like no other and many Sowetan’s are still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. Tzu Chi foundation from Taiwan managed to help and ensure better food relief co-ordination in our Community so everyone had what they need.

At Ammish we have risen and recovered. On this day we managed to distribute 100 food parcels to 90 elderly and 10 childheaded households…Thank you Tzu Chi for the support in these times. We are looking forward to future cooperation.

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Dear Readers,

Last week Ammish got some generous donations from ADRS Diversified Services, one of the leading providers of debt collection and debt recovery services. They brought us food grocery for our Beneficiaries and Elderly persons.

Ammish managing director would like to thank the whole team to keep up the good work of planting a seed not to us only. The Company also donated 80 shoe boxes to the shoebox project to share and give a smile to the needy and vulnerable children that benefited all through the years. May you be blessed and continue doing these good deeds. Ammish is always willing to cooperate with you in the future!

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On the 19th DECEMBER 2020 AMMISH in collaboration with ONE HEART PROJECT (O.H.P) visited Takalani home for the Disabled, Orphaned and Abused to shower them with gifts.

Takalani Children’s Home, (TCH) aims to assist abandoned, orphaned and abused children. The same Takalani is a Tshivenda name meaning “Be Happy”.
On the day we visited it was also the birthday from those who celebrated their birthdays from August – December. Wards Orientation was done were it was not easier for us to see life in a different form. We are blessed to visits the challenged ones and stop complaining and appreciate life. Though it was challenging we went through the day with our calling to shower them with gifts and love.

Christmas is a season of giving and thinking about our loved ones especially those who doesn’t know the Christmas spirit around their families to also think of the less fortunate ones. The Christmas tree was also erected, decorated with gifts to give the essence of Christmas Spirit. Guess what! Mother Christmas was also there to distribute presents to individuals, a day to be remember.
OHP also donated furniture to the home and it was well appreciated. Thank you to the volunteers who supported the event for a good course….

• He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree
• Christmas Celebration 2023
• Acknowledgement for Grocery Donors
• Gift a Smile – Christmas 2022
• High Tea Party for the good cause

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Remember, it’s more than just a gift it’s a demonstration of your feelings. Gift giving is actually a way to invest in a relationship. In essence, it is a social lubricant, a way to celebrate life, love and friendship and become a better person.

Christmas is a season of giving and thinking about our loved ones especially those who don’t know the Christmas spirit around their families. The Christmas tree was also erected, decorated with gifts to give the essence of Christmas Spirit.

Santa is coming to town

With AMMISH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Christmas came early this year on the 28th November 2020. Our beneficiaries couldn’t wait for the day to arrive for them to receive GIFTS from SANTA SHOE BOX PROJECT. We have distributed 302 Christmas gifts from the Santa Shoebox Project. Beneficiaries gifts were packed according to their grades, gender and age. It was easy for Ammish Team to distribute and work efficiently with our work for the day.

Joy despite Rain

On the day of distribution the weather was not favorable, it was drizzling but didn’t stop the event to be executed to be given gifts, packed lunch and the party packs, not forgetting sanitizing and wearing of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . It was a different Christmas party this year 2020 with the COVID -19 Pandemic on our minds. 
But guess what! Mother Christmas was still there to distribute presents to individuals, a day to be remembered. Mother Christmas came to town as for many of our BENEFICIARIES it was their first experience to feel, touch and receive a gift from her. They were all happy to be pampered and acknowledged, given love to experience Christmas in a special different way…

Not forgetting our supporter Mr. Sithole from Engen Garage (Soweto) and our backers in Germany, Andreas and friends to make the day to be a success – Thank You and my God bless You!

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the article is a bit late this time, but our last big event was just on time. We’re talking about the christmas surprise for our beneficiaries. Actually this is getting more and more a regular thing at Ammish. If you want to know how it all started take a look back to 2018. 

A special day for our kids

At Ammish we believe that all our beneficiaries are exceptional in their own way amd it is important to show them our respect and appreciation.  That’s why this year we prepared a little pavilion to be able to hand over the presents personally and with an official touch. Each child got a selection of toys, sweets, toiletries and school materials suitable for its age. While it wasn’t their turn to be gifted they could play around the yard, were offered skin painting or could use the jumping castle errected outside. We see our mission not only in presenting the kids with short-lived fun articles, but also in supporting them with dayly needs to have a lasting impact on their lives.

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