The Christian Lifestyle Magazine, Issue 12

whose you are, not only will the game itself
change, but also your perspective on life in
general will. The understanding of one’s identity
is essential because, once obtained, it enables
one to pursue one’s predetermined path with
unstoppable fortitude and confidence.
TEHILLAH COMMUNITY
COLLABORATIVE: FORGED THROUGH
TOUGH TIMES NOT DEFINED BY IT!
YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING
YOUR COMMUNITY AND WORKING
HARD IN THE TRENCHES. HOW DID THE
VISION FOR TEHILLAH COME ABOUT?
(THIS INCLUDES THE CENTER AND THE
CHURCH)
In response to the suffering that I witnessed
in the community in which I had spent my
formative years, I established Tehillah in 1992.
The dream first consisted only of a soup kitchen,
but with God’s grace it grew to encompass
more. Not only did I experience domestic
violence as a child, but also later on in my
marriage. My history reflects this. My upbringing
took place in a neighborhood that is notorious
for its high rate of gang activity and widespread
poverty. Because of the stigma that is
associated with those who are rejected not just
by society in general but especially, tragically,
by the church, I felt driven to establish a church
of my own. Tehillah Ministries Extreme Oasis
is the name of our church because we are an
oasis that assists people who are going through
extremely difficult situations.
Today, Tehillah Community Collaborative is
composed of the following four Clusters: Social
Services Cluster, Health Cluster, Educational
Cluster, and Arts and Culture /Youth Cluster.
The motto of the organization is “embracing
change,” and Tehillah Ministries is a place
that welcomes everyone, where everybody is
somebody.
THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF ANY VISION.
WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT, WHAT
KINDS OF CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE,
AND WHAT KINDS OF CHALLENGES DO
YOU FACE NOW?
Both then and now, we are faced with a variety
of challenges. However, the mentality of two
groups of people, the naysayers and those who
believe in the vision but don’t yet see it coming
to fruition, presents the most difficult obstacle.
The state of one’s finances is another significant
source of discomfort. Over the course of my
life, I have gained the wisdom to view obstacles
as opportunities for growth and development
rather than as obstacles in and of themselves.
TELL US ABOUT THE WORK YOU
ARE CURRENTLY DOING IN THE
COMMUNITY.
We offer a 24-hour holistic communityorientated
primary care service that entails:
• a safe haven called House of Magda
houses 140 people, currently homeless,
rejected frail people who are too young for
an old age home but too sick and frail to
stay on the streets,
• substance abuse center that can cater for
40 beds of which government funds only
9 beds a quarter but the rest is means test
dependant or free as substance abuse is a
major increasing concern,
• 75 Homebase carers who do 6000 home
visits a month, community care workers
specifically work with HIV Aids and TB
defaulters,
• Counselling and social services, medi-
mobile that delivers door-to-door
prescribed medication, and currently
they deliver 8000 – 9000 medication per
month, and this is done by a team of 12
specialized people.
• 4 community care workers who do wound
care,
• a church,
• early childhood development which is
specifically aimed at assisting the parents
or guardians who are government child
support grant recipients.
OUR PRESIDENT DESCRIBES GBV AS
A SECOND PANDEMIC. EXPLAIN HOW
YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SUBJECT AND
WHY YOU ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF
THE STRUGGLE TO END GBV.
I am a survivor of gender-based violence, and
at one point in my life, because of my severe
depression, the doctors told me that I will never
reach the age of 35 due to all of the trauma
that I was enduring; however, by the grace of
God, I am at the age of 65. Another person
who has triumphed over severe instances of
gender-based violence is my own mother. This
problem and this evil feel especially
close to home to me because I am
able to empathize with the people
who have been victimized by it. The
unfortunate truth is that children
are almost always the ones who
end up bearing the brunt of the
consequences of whatever action or
inaction was taken.
WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
HEART-BREAKING INCIDENTS
YOU DEALT WITH IN THE
COMMUNITY?
It was the most heart-breaking
experience to have to tell a mother
that five of her daughters were HIV
positive. Also, telling a mother that
her daughter, who is 12 years old,
was raped by a neighbour who is still
living next door to them. Especially
concerning is the common practice
of family members deserting elderly
or mentally ill members of their
family at medical facilities.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
REASONS, IN YOUR OPINION,
THAT WOMEN REMAIN IN
ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS?
In the majority of abusive
relationships, the abuser is also the
primary source of income. The victim
of domestic violence is of the opinion
that she will be unable to provide
for her children if she takes legal
action against her abuser because
doing so will result in the loss of their
household’s income. Unfortunately,
abused women are also stigmatized,
and many of them prefer to suffer in
silence rather than draw attention to
their situation.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU
GIVE SUCH A WOMAN?
Break the silence and seek
assistance, as it is possible for us to
collaborate with both the perpetrator
and the victim. If she does not
seek aid or have an intervention
conducted, the children will suffer,
presuming there are children
involved.
ARE VOLUNTEERS ACCEPTED
AT TEHILLAH, AND IF SO, WHAT
ARE THE STEPS TO BECOMING
A VOLUNTEER?
Volunteers are welcome to join
us, but before they can do so, they
will have to go through a screening
process and follow the guidelines
established by our organization.
HOW CAN INDIVIDUALS
SUPPORT YOUR WORK WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY?
By becoming an active stakeholder,
bringing their expertise to the
table, and providing support in the
form of both financial and in-kind
contributions. We have compiled a
list of requirements that is accessible
to anyone who makes a request for
it.
WHAT WORD OR SONG IS IN
YOUR SPIRIT THIS SEASON?
Echoing through my mind and heart
in this season is the song: “When I
remember what the Lord has done, I
will never go back anymore.”
CONTACT DETAILS
Tehillah Community Collaborative
No.196, 16th Avenue, Leonsdale,
Elsies River, Cape Town
Mobile No: 072 302 9638
Landline: 021 933 0990
Left: Feeding the community during Magda's 60th Birthday Celebrations; Right: Cake cutting with some clients at
the Safe Haven
I BELIEVE THAT
WHEN GOD
CONTINUALLY
REMINDS
ME OF HIS
CALLING
ON MY LIFE,
IT SERVES
TO BOTH
REFRESH AND
STRENGTHEN
ME.
14 THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE 15