Volmoed RetreatCentre for Healing & Reconciliation

Thank you for your support for Volmoed Retreat Centre! It is a place of healing and wholeness, rest and respite for those battered by life’s struggles. In the past it has held programs for local and international groups dealing with issues of reconciliation and violence, including experiences of war. However in 2020, Covid-19 stopped all of the usual activity and no visitors were allowed for months. 

Volmoed shifted focus to act as a space for shelter, so that visitors could return with permission from the local authorities. Now as South Africa has moved to level 1 of lockdown, visitors have returned but only as individuals and families, and it is still slow, with not enough income coming in. All the groups canceled and have not felt safe enough to travel or to gather here in their groups.  

No groups have yet returned, and though we were excited about an international group booking for November, they have just canceled due to the second wave of infections in Europe. This has had huge impact on our income, and our staff continue to operate on three days a week of work and 60% salaries. It is not possible to do all the work in three days a week but everyone has stayed hopeful and optimistic. The team spirit at Volmoed is fantastic!

There are a couple of other building projects that are funded by outsiders that have helped to keep Volmoed going but we need to raise $20,000 for the next five months to avoid retrenching staff.

We refuse to believe we will need to lay off staff and are working hard to raise money to pay the utilities, insurance, staff pensions, maintenance costs, and all else that goes to keep this beautiful, healing space going. 

Thank you for your help and support!