Our Story
We live back-to-back with abject poverty, neglect, and abuse. First world and third world alongside each other! Through those who’re prepared to give what they can of their time, expertise and finances, present and future …. generations will be changed.Nation Changers was started 11 years ago, God inspired by Isaiah 58.
“This is the kind of fast day I’m after says the Lord: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you doing is:
Sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once.” – Taken from the Message Bible
Inspired by Isaiah 58, Fiona Marshall launched CityHope Engage to the CityHill congregation in Feb 2011.
June 2011, volunteers started to visit Embo Educare Pre-School.
Six families started to receive food parcels once per week. Small amounts of second-hand clothing, as it came in, was given to these families to meet their specific needs.
Volunteers started to visit various underprivileged creches.
Nation Changers Meal packing started at a Cato Ridge Church.
We became a distributor for JAM porridge with 3 creches.
We started extra teaching at Khabazela High – Maths, Accounting and LO
Toilets and a classroom were built for Ikhwezi Pre-school.
Neema Gateway to Reading was started at Abambo Primary.
March – Nadine Wright joined the Nation Changers Team.
First Nation Changers month with 52 events.
We built an undercover play area and kitchen for Ikhwezi Pre-school.
We erected fencing at Ikhwezi Pre-school.
Water tanks and a vegetable garden were introduced at Lethusizo School.
A CityHill Embo vegetable garden and water tank with guttering was established.
February – Sam Jordt joined the Nation Changers Team.
March – The Nation Changers Isuzu Bakkie was acquired
Second Nation Changers month with 60 events
We built an ablution block and 3 classrooms for Isambulo School.
A container arrived for skills development.
Increased number of Pre-Schools supported.
We established Bright’s Creche veggie garden.
July – Buhle’s Gemini Hut was constructed.
Ikhethelo’s jungle gym was built.
Jan – we completed an ablution block at Isambulo School.
Third Nation Changers month with 82 events.
400 volunteers.
A double container purchased to expand our outreach capacity.
Packing 20 non-perishable food parcels.
Opened The Clothing Box Shop and stocked with new clothing.
2 March – 1st Neema Reading Phoshani Primary lessons started.
Three new classrooms built at Isambulo College.
13 Feb – official opening of The Clothing Box Shop.
Fourth Nation Changers month – 46 events.
2000 Nation Changers meals packed per month.
Aug – 1st Nation Changers Conference.
Zimele ablution block was built.
Bags of Blessings food parcels – 12 distributed every month.
The Above & Beyond Building Project was launched to the church in January.
Covid – food aid and distribution, Covid protocol training for creches, debranding clothing. We operated from the Children’s Church side of the building.
Nation Changers Meal Packs – 21 655 packed between March 2020 and February 2021.
Food parcels – 7853 distributed.
Dec – moved out of containers to Acacia Business Park.
Jan – The Above & Beyond Building construction was started.
July – Civil unrest. Food aid and distribution.
Completion of The Above & Beyond Building which included the Nation Changers Development and Distribution Centre.
Oct – we moved into the new Centre.
2 x sewing classes.
1 x crochet lessons.
The Clothing Box – 150 Shoppers.
Neema Gateway to Reading at 2 primary schools.
Creche visits resumed once per week at 9 different creches.
Adult literacy classes.
Infrastructure planned for the second half of the year.
300 food parcels to destitute people every month.
1000 Nation Changers Meal Packs to creches and the destitute.
Maintenance undertaken at creches.
Nation Changers Month will take place in July.
Building infrastructure planned for the second.
Vision
Statement
Changing our nation with one act of kindness at a time.
Mission
Statement
To create a platform to bring about restoration in our community. Is Isaiah 58:12 “To be known as those who restore what is ruined, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again!” Everything undergirded by prayer.