Elim Home Annual Report 2021/2022

In Memoriam

• Maruscke Grove - Resident for 26 years

• Fonnie Hendrik Pieterse - Former chairperson of Elim Home

• Gladys Pieterse - Staunch supporter

• Me. Minnie Cunningham - Prayer warrior of Elim Home

• Vera October - Former caregiver 37 years of service

Maintenance

Ongoing maintenance work is done daily.

The projects that were completed during the past year were:

• Upgrading of the courtyard/ play area on the right side of the main building
• Levelling of Elim Home grounds
• The electricity of all buildings was inspected and corrected to update the electricity certificate because of upgrading on the buildings

Agriculture 

The project managed to recover after heavy set back due to Covid-19, but climate change also had a significant impact on the project. The project provided fresh seasonal vegetables to Elim Home as well as the selling of vegetables to the community and markets. The water pipes from the reservoir were totally changed because it was still asbestos, old, perished, and unsafe. The electronics of the irrigation system were installed, and a new Wendy house was erected.

EMS 50th Celebration

As ecumenical workers of EMS and projects, Godfrey and Lesinda Cunningham were invited to partake in the service and celebration of EMS on the 15th of September 2022.

Toiletry Project

This project was launched to cut costs and add stability to the budget. It was an enormous success. We thank the congregations and individuals that contributed generously.

Volunteers and Friends

A trained Physiotherapist supplementing the therapy team. A medical administrative intern also joined the team. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we unfortunately did not receive volunteers from abroad. Application for volunteers from EMS was completed for 2023. The University of Windesheim in the Netherlands is back on board which is very gladdening

We are grateful and blessed with loyal friends. Your support through words, deeds, and funding extended our hands. One such project was the ‘HIGH TEA” held on the 4th of September 2022 by the Hemm Cluster of Cape Town North District. No one can exist without friends and a support system.

Challenges and Opportunities

The tough global economic condition had a negative impact on the cash flow of the organisation. The severity of the mental health conditions of our clients is a great concern because the standard of care contributes positively to the life span of the clients. The standard and expectations of the government and the mental health act’s make it exceedingly difficult for Elim Home to uphold their required standards.

A BIG THANK YOU to all our donors. We often forget that there are people praying for us and supporting us.

Zeist Zending Genootschap; Moravian Church Foundation; British Moravian Board; Evangelisches Missionwerk in Solidarity; Moravian Churches in South Africa; Landes kirche Hessen and Nassau; Landes kirche Baden; Moravian Churches in Germany ; Moravian Churches Netherlands; Kinderfonds MAMAS; Kirstenbosch Rotary Club; Bredasdorp Rotary Club; Overberg Kwiltersguide; Innerwheel Claremont; Innerwheel Durbanville; Parents; Volunteers and their families’ God parents; Friends in South Africa; Friends in Germany ; Friends in Switzerland; Department of Social Development; Department of Health; Department of Education; Trustees; Brothers’ association - Organisation Elim; Women’s association - Organisation Elim; White Shark - Gansbaai; Goedverwacht Huis Club; Women’s Travelclub ; Revive Woman’s Group

Account No: 1251014402
Branch Code: 12514280
Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ
Electronic Bank Code: 198765

Chairman's Address

Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

All thanks to our Heavenly Father for his blessings of the Elim Home. To the Committee, staff, and Management you give your best to the Elim Home and our children. This is not just another job this is a calling. To the donors and supporting individuals, teams, organizations, and Departments with your contributions, we were able to complete this calling. Thanks for all your contributions it changes someone’s life for the good. We will include all of you in the future plans for Elim Home as you are part of this family.

Operational Manager Report

All those the father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. “Joh. 6 v. 37

Only Jesus is the spiritual bread that gives life. It is He, Himself, who breaks Himself to feed us, His children. We as children need not strangle in spiritual hunger but can live in spiritual abundance. Jesus does not work independently from God the Father. He and the FATHER IS ONE AND Jesus is obedient to God. It is the Father who inspires Jesus’s people, to believe in HIM and to understand His miracles. Jesus will never drive anybody away that comes to Him in faith, He will always accept everyone.

We as a team from Elim Home are witnesses of this scripture. His promise that we will not perish, came to fulfilment during the past 59 years of existence. We honour God for His guidance and wisdom through good and challenging times. The organisation recovered very well after the Covid-19 pandemic.

I have been moved and impressed by the World council of churches assembly by the inclusion of the theme of disability, at the 11th World council of churches assembly held in Karlsruhe, Germany. An extraordinarily strong message of the rights, inclusion, and duty to live, care and support persons in their ability.

We all have the responsibility to see that these tasks are done and addressed very seriously all over the world. By doing just this we will contribute by living the theme of the World council of churches.

"CHRIST LOVE MOVES THE WORLD TO RECONCILIATION AND UNITY”

It is only by God's grace and through faith, that we can fulfil our calling, caring for the most vulnerable in our country. Lesinda Cunningham

Governance

The director and a holistic team of volunteers serve Elim Home with a passion. At our constituting meeting in November 2022, Mr. W. Linnert was elected as the Chairperson of the Elim Home board. We thank him for serving Elim Home in this capacity. The members have different portfolios to accompany the different departments of the organisations. Lesinda Cunningham has been elected as board member of the Western Cape Forum for disabilities. The Forum is an activist for NGOs in the disability sector.

Residents

We do our utmost best to care for our clients with respect and dignity. Our service is measured through excellent health conditions and the low mortality rate of our children. Excellent quality of nursing care, food, clothes and a good standard of bedding to maintain the homely atmosphere.

All children are fully immunised against the Coronavirus. They received their Influenza vaccines and during the month of May 2022. Vitamins are given through the winter months to supplement the nutritious meals and to boost and maintain their immunity.

The Therapy department team with support from the multidisciplinary team of the department of education improved the standard of our therapy plan. The therapy area was decorated with colourful wall blocks, physio, and therapy material to ensure an attractive, calming and stimulating atmosphere.

Admissions - 3 Discharges - 2 Deaths - 1

Staff Matters

We gratefully report that our staff are very committed and keen to learn.

This cheerful outlook contributed tremendously to maintaining a good standard of work.

Three of the senior staff members retired during the past year which left Elim Home with new, but very enthusiastic staff.

All posts were filled after their retirement.

Training

Inservice training are done to upskill and keep staff well informed. Training providers opened their doors after Covid-19 negatively impacted the training programs. Formal accredited trainings completed during the year:

Carer training Level 1 - 8 staff members completed
Basic Wheelchair repair - 3 staff members completed
Programme implementers - toolkit management - 4 staff members completed.
Excel computer course - 4 staff members completed
Staff wellness program - gender-based violence - 4 sessions

We are grateful that this sphere is getting back to improving the standard of work.

A well-balanced continuous training program was delivered throughout the year.

The staff of all areas was trained in short, accredited training courses.

We experience a challenge with formal Accredited Carer training because providers are struggling with funding.

Bredasdorp Outreach

The Bredasdorp day-care centre currently has thirteen children enrolled at the centre. The positive involvement of the different NGOs and government departments is the success of the children entering the centre at an early age. We thank the department of education for supporting the sector with formal intellectual and stimulation programs. It is of utmost importance for the children to reach goals that were impossible. We are proud of the olive tree project, backyard gardening as well as the vegetable gardens supported by Kinderfonds Mamas which are successful.

Gansbaai Outreach

We have twenty-one children in our day-care centre. Through support from the Department of Education, regular evaluations are done, and individualised programs are implemented to improve the highest possible outcomes. We are proud to share in our excellent educational and stimulation programs that, three clients were transferred to various levels of education. Three new children were enrolled in the day-care centre of which the youngest is 18 months old. The prognosis will be great through early intervention. The involvement of the Community is outstanding and need to be mentioned. The cheerful attitude of the staff is beneficial to the NGO.