Transcript Bridgman Youth Centre

Carla Giger Makalima,
Global Mission Intern working with the
UCCSA at the Bridgman Youth Center,
South Africa
Bridgman Youth
Centre
An outreach project of the United
Congregational Church of Southern
Africa (UCCSA)
UCCSA
United Congregational Church of Southern
Africa

5 countries
Botswana,
Mozambique,
Nambia,
South Africa,
Zimbabwe
“In Christ there
is a Future”
South Africa


Democracy
11 Official
Languages
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
Xhosa
Zulu
English
Afrikaans
Ndbele
Pedi
Swati
Tswana
Sotho
Venda
Shangaan
Apartheid



1948 Nationalist
Party
“Separateness”
1950’s passage of
laws and acts




Forced Removal
Act
Homelands Act
Pass book laws
Uprisings

June 16, 1976
SOWETO
South Western Townships
Established in the mid
1950’s
 Simple Homes
 Estimated 3 Million
 Sowetan Pride

1994
 2010

Local Community

Zola Township
Gang Activity
 Petty crime
 High teenage
pregnancy rate
 High drop out
rate
 High
unemployment

Bridgman Youth Centre

Built in 1975 as a
conference centre
for Ministers

Rev. Bernard
Spong
Bridgman Youth Centre
Bridgman Programs

Mornings
Community
Center
 Volunteer
Program


Afternoons

Aftercare
• Grades 1-7

GASA
• High School Girls
Other Programs
Saturday School
December Holiday Bible School
Volunteers
Bible Study
Mondays….
Special Snack
1:30-3:00
Kids Arrive
PreActivity
3:00-3:30 Homework
or Fun Activity
3:30-5:00 Special Snack
TuesdayThursday
1:30-3:00
Kids Arrive
PreActivity
3:00-3:30 Homework
or Fun Activity
3:30-4:00 Devotion and
Meal
4:00-5:00 Activities
Tuesdays
•Life Skills
•Crafts
Wednesdays
•Board Games
•Computers
Thursdays
•Recreation
•Computers
Fridays
1:00-2:30 Kids Arrive
PreActivity
2:30-4:00
Movie with
snack
GASA
Girls Against the Spread of AIDS
Began in 2005
 TAP Program
 Goals

Empowerment
of teenage girls
 Prevent
HIV/AIDS
 Service to the
Community

Peer Educator Training
•Abstinence
•Condoms
•Healthy
Dating
Relationships
•Facts about
HIV/AIDS
•Drug Abuse
•Body Image
•Self Esteem
•Self Defense
Weekly GASA Meeting
GASA Service Projects
UCCSA Soup
Kitchen
Visiting an Old Age
Home
GASA Trips
Botanical Gardens
GASA Retreat
“In Christ there is a Future”
The Global Mission Intern program of which Carla was a
part, is funded by Week of Compassion. Global
Ministries is able to send missionaries, like Carla, on
behalf of Disciples and UCC because of your generous
support of Week of Compassion/Disciples Mission Fund
(DMF) and One Great Hour of Sharing/Our Church’s
Wider Mission (OCWM).
Thank you for sharing the story of God’s mission in
South Africa in your congregation!
Visit globalministries.org for other information