Operational Christmas Child graduates
OCC wants every child to feel special while learning valuable life lessons.
KwaThema – Upper Room Healing Ministry class graduates from Operational Christmas Child (OCC) programme.
Shelly Mkhize from OCC says the programme was born out of a concern for the African child.
“We volunteer to train Sunday school teachers after we partner with pastors to help them understand our mission.
“Our dream is for every child to have a bible and materials that will enable them to understand it.”
Shelly explains that at the beginning of each project, they give all the children shoe box gifts.
“Children like gifts – something tangible.
“Then they take the twelve week lessons.”
She says the purpose of the graduation ceremony is to encourage the children and their peers to enter the programme.
“These children are safer being here than roaming the streets.
This programme gives them something to look forward to while they learn real life lessons.”
Pastor Sarah Mahlangu, Sunday school teacher at Upper Room, says they have been involved with OCC since 2015.
“We go to training every year and come back to start with a new group of children.”
She says the classes have been very beneficial to the children.
The graduating class consists of 23 learners between the ages of eight to 14.
“We are also very grateful to parents for being supportive.
Some of the parents of children who come to the classes do not even attend our church, but they encourage their children to come,” adds Delisile Thanjekwayo, another Sunday school teacher.
