5Km Backwards Walk.

Hannah House Opening.

Hannah House Victim Empowerment Centre which is managed by the Alberton Methodist Care and Relief Enterprise (AMCARE), had its opening on Friday February 4, 2011 during a ceremony led by Deacon Dr Vernon van Wyk, CEO of AMCARE.

AMCARE has been in existence since 2002. One of the first services provided, was a Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence which could accommodate 8 women. This original 80 year old building was described by Deacon Dr Vernon van Wyk as being “battered itself” and needed to be replaced to provide a safe homely place for women and children.

In 2010 AMCARE applied for and was granted R849,000 from the National Lotto Distribution Trust Fund to erect a new Shelter. The old building was demolished and a new building was erected . Building started in October 2010 and was finished in February 2011. The new Hannah House can accommodate 20 persons and has two family units where mothers with children can be accommodated privately.

Rev John Stack, Senior Minister at the Alberton Methodist Church,  dedicated the new building.  AMCARE Chairperson, Mr. Peter Nancarrow and VEP Activist, Ms. Noleen Henry officially opened the new Hannah House by cutting the ribbon. Hannah House is dedicated to the Lord and will be a place of healing, prayer and light for women and children.

 Hannah House, named after the mother of Samuel, was a woman who was scolded, ridiculed and laughed at, but found her strength in prayer. The following quotation from 1 Samuel 2:1 is at the entrance: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my strength is exulted in the LORD. I will smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.” Women will come to Hannah House to become whole again – in mind, body and soul.
Soli Deo Gloria

Partnership with ANC Youth League

AMCARE launched a partnership with the Ward 38 Zakhisizwe Branch of the ANC Youth League in a programme called “Wheel to Life” on 8 October 2009.

The Branch, under chairmanship of Ms Noncedo Tujane, has taken the initiative to help AMCARE with its work of poverty relief in the townships.

They have come up with the idea of calling on all their members to contribute one grocery item each month which they will contribute to AMCARE for distribution to the poor.

The project is called WHEEL TO LIFE because they want it to gain momentum and keep on rolling into the future.

A large group of ANCYL members met with AMCARE management and staff on 8 October in the Air Liquide Conference Centre at AMCARE’s Injabulo Clinic to launch this Wheel to Life programme and appropriately enough, the first product they will asking their members to collect during this month is roll-on deodorant!

AMCARE was delighted by this unexpected show of compassion and support from the ANCYL, which is often only seen as a militant organisation.

Dr Vernon van Wyk, CEO of AMCARE said that this co-operation between two civic organisations like the ANCYL and AMCARE was a refreshing development that showed a concern amongst the youth for those less fortunate than themselves.

AMCARE in turn undertook to take this WHEEL TO LIFE project a step further by encouraging the Alberton Methodist Church congregation and all other AMCARE supporters to take up this challenge and collect a different product reach month, starting with the roll-ons.

“ATLAS COPCO generously donated two reconditioned ISUZU bakkies to AMCARE.

They couldn't have come at a better time as two of our other vehicles had now reached a stage where their repair costs were becoming a serious problem and they were over-due to be pensioned off!

ATLAS COPCO has been such a wonderful supporter of our cause and we greatly appreciate their concern for the work we do.

Both these bakkies are going to be kept very busy at AMCARE and Injabulo Clinic right from the start.”