Our Story

Inspired by Isaiah 58, Fiona Marshall initiated CityHope Engage for the CityHill congregation in February. By June, volunteers began visiting Embo Educare Pre-School. They also started packing food parcels weekly for six families and distributing second-hand clothing as it became available.

During these years, a small group of volunteers expanded their visits to additional underprivileged creches and reached out to more marginalised communities.

Significant strides were made this year. Nation Changers partnered with a church in Cato Ridge to pack nutritious meal packs for children’s lunches at creches and for impoverished people. Nation Changers also became a distributor for JAM porridge at three creches. Extra teaching subjects were introduced at Khabazela High.

Furthering their efforts, Nation Changers constructed toilets and a classroom for Ikhwezi Pre-school and launched Neema Gateway to Reading at Abambo Primary.

A year of infrastructure and growth, Nadine Wright joined Nation Changers in March. The organisation hosted 52 events in the inaugural Nation Changers month. They built an undercover play area and kitchen for Ikhwezi Pre-school, erected fencing, and introduced water tanks and a vegetable garden at various schools.

Sam Jordt joined the team in February, and the Nation Changers Isuzu Bakkie was acquired in March. This year also saw the organisation host 60 events during Nation Changers month. Several infrastructural developments were undertaken, including building an ablution block and classrooms and ongoing support of more pre-schools.

Nation Changers completed an ablution block at Isambulo School and hosted 82 events with 400 volunteers during Nation Changers Month. They expanded their outreach capacity with a double container and opened The Clothing Box Shop. Several infrastructural additions were made to local schools.

After the official opening of The Clothing Box Shop, Nation Changers held 46 events and started packing 2000 meals per month. They held their first conference for non-profit organisations and continued to improve facilities at local schools.

The Above & Beyond Building Project was launched in January, marking a significant milestone. This year was characterised by substantial aid and distribution due to Covid. They managed to pack and distribute many tonnes of food while operating from the Children’s Church side of the building.

The construction of The Above & Beyond Building began in January and saw completion later in the year. Despite civil unrest in July, the organisation continued its food aid and distribution efforts. They eventually moved into the new Nation Changers Centre in October.

Greater momentum was experienced, with all projects under one roof. This year saw the expansion of educational efforts with sewing and crochet lessons and the introduction of adult literacy classes. The organisation continued providing food parcels and meal packs, and infrastructure development was completed. In the Nation Changers Month of July, 101 Events were completed. As a result of bursaries raised through Nation Changers, the first six teachers qualified with three-year diplomas in Early Childhood Development and the standard of education at the creches improved significantly. 

The Nation Changers Month grew to 250 Events and aimed to raise over a million rand. Baking classes were started in the CityHill Church kitchen, and a new building was erected for the Born Again Community Centre in Embo. The Clothing Box Shop has 164 people shopping and creating an income stream for their families.