Thank You! Lives were changed in 2007.
Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 11:54PM 
Forward Education’s six bridging program students (L-R) Selbie, Gugu, Winny, Patrick, Fortunate, Stanley.
As the Canadian winter approaches, Forward Education is winding down. As you know, Forward Education classes officially ended in July, but much activity has continued. The students recently finished the high school exams they were writing to upgrade their Gr. 12 marks. And they have also continued their leadership work in the community: mentoring younger orphans in weekly support groups and acting as role models for their peers, especially in the areas of HIV prevention, lifestyle, and the priority of education in Africa’s future.
That community involvement came to a close in November as our students started preparing for the higher education courses they will begin in February, 2008. Fortunate and Gugu will be studying for degrees in Social Work; Stanley has set his sites on studying for the booming South African tourism economy; Patrick will study in a technical or mechanical program; Selbie is following his passion to Agricultural Production college; and Winny will study nursing.
On all accounts Forward Education, 2007 was a success. It drew the attention of international organizations and government ministers, challenging them to see the talents and gifts inherent within the most vulnerable members of society and the life-changing potential that can be released by supporting and encouraging those talents and gifts.
In July we sat before a group of government ministers explaining the reason for Hands at Work’s success transforming South African communities. At that meeting Fortunate stood and told her story: of losing her father as a baby and her mother as a teenager and then the years spent with her brothers struggling for food and school supplies and being completely ignored by her government and by the world.
“But now that I have been supported to achieve university,” she said, “I see the purpose of my life. My parents were taken from me so I would be completely exposed to the pain and problems in my community. I have lived those pains, and when I finish university, I will return and make a difference in my community.”
Fortunate Maile, 20
A group of candidates for Forward Education 2008 are applying for acceptance now, and the new season of classes will begin in February. Forward Education’s homework support for orphans in Grade 10-12 will also begin again in February. In 2008 we hope this service will reach 50 students weekly.
As for Jayme and I, we returned to Calgary in August to plan our future, while Forward Education was continued by three incredible volunteers (including Dan Johns and Laura Pope from Calgary). In February we will return to South Africa to volunteer for Hands at Work in communications, partnerships, and capacity-building across its projects in 7 African countries. We will continue to be involved with the administration and guidance of Forward Education. Dan Johns will also continue with Forward Education in 2008, and an internship is currently being advertised to locate a fulltime teacher to help Dan.
Thank you for your support of Forward Education. Because of your involvement 6 young lives have been changed forever and the impact will affect African communities for generations. For more information, including financial details or on how to continue supporting Forward Education, follow the stories here on unhushed, or contact us anytime.
Love and holiday cheer,
Lynn & Jayme Chotowetz
lynn@unhushed.com | jayme@unhushed.com
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