It began with six families and a verse
We live back-to-back with abject poverty, neglect and abuse. First world and third world, side by side. Through those prepared to give what they can, of their time, their expertise and their finances, present and future generations will be changed.
Inspired by Isaiah 58
Nation Changers was founded over a decade ago, inspired by Isaiah 58: a call to break chains of injustice, share food with the hungry, clothe the ill-clad, and be available to those around us. That calling has never changed. What has changed is the scale of our response.
From one pre-school to three pillars
What began in 2011 as a small group of volunteers visiting a single pre-school in Embo has grown into a registered NGO with a dedicated centre, a team of paid staff, hundreds of active volunteers, and programmes spanning three interconnected pillars: Skills Development, Education and Social Upliftment.
Every year has brought new growth: new programmes, new partnerships, new buildings and, above all, new lives touched. Through Covid, civil unrest and every challenge in between, Nation Changers has continued to show up. That resilience is the story of our volunteers, our donors, and the communities who have trusted us to walk alongside them.
Changing our nation with one act of kindness at a time.
To create a platform to bring about restoration in our community. To be known as those who restore what is ruined, rebuild and renovate, and make the community livable again. Everything undergirded by prayer.
"Your people will rebuild the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:12
Fifteen years of faithfulness
Fiona Marshall launches CityHope Engage at CityHill Church, inspired by Isaiah 58. Volunteers begin visiting Embo Educare Pre-School and six families receive weekly food parcels and clothing.
Nation Changers meal packing begins at a Cato Ridge church. We become a JAM porridge distributor for three creches and start extra maths, accounting and Life Orientation teaching at Khabazela High.
Toilets and a classroom are built for Ikhwezi Pre-School, and the Neema Gateway to Reading programme starts at Abambo Primary.
The first Nation Changers Month runs with 52 events. An undercover play area, kitchen and fencing are built at Ikhwezi, and vegetable gardens with water tanks are established at Lethusizo and Embo.
The Nation Changers bakkie arrives, 60 events run in NC Month, an ablution block and three classrooms are built for Isambulo, and the first skills development container lands.
NC Month grows to 82 events with 400 volunteers. The Clothing Box Shop opens, the double container is completed, and the first Neema lessons begin at Phoshani Primary.
The Clothing Box Shop officially opens. Meal packing reaches 2,000 Nation Changers Meals per month, the first NC Conference is hosted, and the Zimele ablution block is built.
Covid response: 21,655 meal packs and 7,853 food parcels are distributed between March 2020 and February 2021, alongside Covid protocol training for creches.
The Above & Beyond building rises. Teams respond to the July civil unrest with food aid, and in October Nation Changers moves into the new Development and Distribution Centre.
Two sewing classes and crochet lessons run, The Clothing Box reaches 150 shoppers, Neema runs at two primary schools, creche visits resume at nine creches, adult literacy classes begin, and 300 food parcels plus 1,000 meal packs go out monthly.
Nation Changers Month raises over R2 million. Angela van Heerden takes over leadership from Nadine, and Lauren Gregory joins in December.
Love in a Gift Pack puts a Christmas gift in the hands of over 2,000 children. NC Month raises more than R1.68 million, including R1 million at a single breakfast. The Job Readiness Programme launches, an advanced sewing class taught by graduates begins, and Mbali joins as Clothing Box project lead.