To mark 50 years of Tearfund, we’re sharing about 50 countries where we’ve worked, celebrating God’s provision and power to transform, and praying for each of these nations. This week we’re in South Africa.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu described South Africa as ‘the rainbow nation’ following the end of apartheid. Numerous tribes and peoples live in the nation, mostly without any inter-racial or cultural fighting.
However, South Africa is a nation of many contradictions. Although it is no longer under white minority rule, there are still huge divisions, with the majority of blacks and whites still living largely separate lives. The nation is still nowhere close to having equality of opportunity for education, work and much more besides.
For the last decade, Tearfund has been supporting the work of a remarkable organisation that is committed to spreading a narrative of unity, change and hope amid continuing division.
Ethembeni, which means ‘place of hope’ in Zulu, was set up in 2000. The vision was to give hope to families living with HIV and TB. Eighteen years later and the Ethembeni family continues to grow, with over 100 staff, consultants and volunteers.In the past ten years Tearfund has been sending UK volunteers to South Africa to live and learn alongside the community.