By Wilma Jakobsen | Project Leader
Volmoed Retreat Centre Report April 2023
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GENEROUS DONORS!
This year has been busy thus far and for that we are thankful. A number of very special groups came to Volmoed, and loved the beautiful space and the peace that pervades.
A group came from the USA on a Tutu Travel Seminar. The Southern Africa Leadership Team of World Vision held a retreat at Volmoed. Students from Mennonite Eastern University in the USA spent a week staying with local families in Zwelihle, and engaged with young people from our youth leadership program at Volmoed during the days.
Unyoke, an international peace building organization, hosted their first meeting back at Volmoed since the Covid-19 pandemic. Members attended from different countries and continents.
A new youth leadership program of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, called Leadership For Humanity, was held. Seventeen young entrepeneurs and activists from the Western Cape and some from Johannesburg and Zimbabwe, engaged in an intense week of learning and practice of the leadership values and principles of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Each morning started with a yoga body movement exercise, then walking to a different beauty spot of Volmoed in silence - mindfully and meditatively, noticing and paying attention to sounds, sights, smells and trying to stay in the present moment. This was new for all of them, and many of them said it was a significant aspect of the week for them.
Some of the women said this was the first time ever that they had been in nature by themselves and felt safe. This is the gift of Volmoed.
We continue to think how to gather and share stories of staff, residents and supporters. There is a process beginning whereby we will gather monthly for a simple meal together and share stories. Given that Volmoed is a mix of language, race, ethnic background, education, class and gender, this has potential to be a rich experience.
As we continue through this year, thank you all for your ongoing support. The trustees met in mid April, and heard that while Volmoed has earned double the income in the past year than the year before, there is still a challenge of cash flow. In addition, Volmoed is at the age where essential infrastructure like water pipes and pumps are breaking and need to be replaced. This adds to the challenge of our finances. We are enormously grateful for each and every donor and simply could not do the incredible work we do without you.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS!
WE APPRECIATE YOU!
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
