THE BEGINNING - Immanuel's Haven (Gordon's Bay) - Bubbles Strangman has been caring for children at risk since 1995. She started Immanuel’s Haven in 2000 and was joined by George in 2004 when they got married. In 2006 they purchased a 1.7 hectare smallholding in Firlands, Gordon’s Bay near Cape Town, South Africa with the vision of creating a place of sanctuary for children at risk. Immanuel’s Haven is registered as a charity organisation with a Welfare Fundraising No 040 478 NPO and SARS PBO No 930030861.

IMMANUEL'S HAVEN (GORDON"S BAY)

VISION

To provide a sanctuary for children at risk and a place of training and skills development for disadvantaged youths and adults.

MISSION

To uplift children and their parents, rehabilitate them and ultimately reunite them where possible.

THE PRESENT

We are caring for children 24 hours a day at Immanuel’s Haven. Existing dwellings on the farm have been renovated and modified to provide adequate accommodation to house these children, household staff, child-minders and volunteers.We have crèche / kindergarten, pre-school and after-care facilities for our children as well as the children of workers employed on surrounding smallholdings and unemployed people in the community. George and Bubbles continue to serve within local welfare initiatives, collecting and distributing all types of household items, clothing and food. A general household bric-a-brac and clothes warehouse has been set up and is regularly stocked. We distribute any excess goods in the townships and other disadvantaged communities.Our first Poverty Relief Project started in September 2010 with sewing lessons. 16 Ladies from the local community successfully completed their training in May 2011 after which there was a prize giving with a fashion parade where the ladies could show off their creations! The material was kindly donated by German benefactors. The next sewing training group will start their session in September 2011.

THE FUTURE

We are planning to build a larger home on the premises to be able to accommodate 24 children and 20 babies. There will also be facilities for Upliftment Seminars. Key upliftment training will be offered such as caring for your child, how to understand your child, HIV/AIDS training, etc. Further Poverty Relief Projects will include Basic Computer Training, Vegetable Gardening, Basic Mechanical and Maintenance Training and other similar skills training for disadvantaged children and adults.Future Projects that are planned:

• Swimming pool

• Landscaping and irrigation installation

• Lecture room completion and fitting

• Tree house

• A fountain and waterfall at the dam

• Chicken coup – extend and cover against predatory birds

• Wall to be built between Immanuel's Haven and neighbouring smallholding.

• Paving driveways, parking areas and walkways

• Gym

• Patio in front of current main house to be finished and paved

• Braai and picnic area for open days and other functions

After our new home is built we will need assistance in repairing and assembling donated beds for the children’s rooms, and the renovation of  the silo and house mothers' living quarters.

DONATE, VOLUNTEER OR VISIT

Donate - We are always in need of  :

• Food and Clothing

• Baby Food

• Disposable nappies

• Cradles, prams and cots for the baby room

• Salaries for permanently employed staff

• Funds to pay instructors for various courses and snacks for the trainees

• Gardening – Large rocks as features, compost, trees and shrubs, topsoil, lawnmowers and other equipment, seedlings

• Any unwanted goods

• Excess building material

Volunteering

Have you ever considered volunteering for a Non Profit Organization on a long term basis? We are urgently in need of volunteers staying three months or longer. While we have 5 ladies on the premises on a permanent basis doing basic domestic work and child-care, we need the volunteer to assist with crèche / kindergarten care and helping the school-going children with homework and projects. Should the volunteer be in possession of an international driving license, he or she can also assist with various transport functions. In return for your child-caring help, we offer a rewarding experience on a South African smallholding situated between the mountains and the sea, close to Cape Town, South Africa.Any other short term voluntary help will also be sincerely appreciated, such as:

• mowing lawns,

• weeding the vegetable garden,

• general maintenance,

• sports training for the children,

• any other training and skills

VISIT OR CONTACT

• If you would like to donate funds, goods, time, training skills or simply visit, please contact George and Bubbles Strangman

• Bubbles: +27 82 441 7806; George: +27 84 241 7806

• Plot 176 Firlands, Gordon’s Bay, 7150

• P O Box 1012, Strand, 7139

• Email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

• BANK DETAIL : Standard Bank Savings Account, Immanuel's Haven, Acc No: 277 175 593, Swift Code: SBZA ZAJJ, Sort or Branch code: 033012 Helderberg, Sort or Bra conchde: 63200500 (all branches the same)

• Fundraising number: 040-478-NPO, PBO number: 930030861