Looking back in 2022:
A look at major challenges
March 23, 2023
Looking back in 2022, we see great challenges, but also the gratifying sum of
€ 48,546.11 in donations, for which we are very grateful. Last year, too, every euro
we received went to our two projects: supporting the work of Holger and Kay Lorentz
in South Africa and the tireless work of Pastor Alfred Osei-Poku in Ghana.
In South Africa, Holger and his wife Kay run a home for orphans in Fisantekraal, which is located in the greater Cape Town area, run courses in various areas of life management and run soup kitchens. Their project centre in Fisantekraal was previously rented, but now savings and donations are enough to buy it; this is currently in the process. In his last newsletter, Holger wrote to us that, despite all the help, it is still a daily struggle to cover all the costs for his large orphan family, which have increased noticeably since the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine. However, with the help of loyal donors and God, the struggle has been won time and again so far. CHA donors have also contributed to this to a small extent.
Our main commitment continues to be focused on the bush village of Akim Ayerebi in Ghana. Linda Ahenkorah runs "our" school there, the Elim Academy. This school also struggles with a lack of funds, but with the help of donations and God's blessings, it has been able to function fully. In her annual report, which we received a few days ago, Linda, whose heart burns for the school, wrote to us, not without a little pride, that in the last exams of the graduating class, which are held nationwide, the best student received an award for his results - and he was a student at our school! As is often the case, the school's operations were complicated by the school bus breaking down, because the roads in Ayirebi and the surrounding area are very bad and expensive repairs were needed. The Mercedes service Schlüter & Söhne in Hamburg is a member of the Circle of Friends of the CHA, has made several large donations in the past, and has given us an open-ended payment period for the required spare parts this time, until funds allow again to pay the bill.
The medical centre has also made progress, but full hospital operations have not yet started, beyond the ambulance service and the examination station. Meanwhile, our impatient request from Hamburg is being answered with great embarrassment. Linda assures us that the last official requirements have recently been met, that the operating licence is now imminent, and that the inauguration is already being planned. Pastor Alfred is currently in Hamburg, but will travel to Ghana again at the beginning of March to oversee the opening of the hospital there. It was a huge project that Pastor Alfred and his team in Ayirebi had set out to accomplish in 2014, when they started this hospital. And the day of the inauguration will be celebrated there accordingly.
In mid-May, we expect Pastor Alfred back in Hamburg, together with a small team of teachers from the Elim Academy, for a training session: the company Wizard Gesellschaft für Textilkonzepte has donated a textile processing machine for vocational courses at the Elim Academy and will train the team in how to operate the machine.
Our thanks also go to the Dr. von Froreich Laboratory, which has donated two pallets of high-quality consumables for the hospital, to the international specialist transport company Hoyer and the Scheck Foundation for their repeated generous financial commitment over the past year, but also to many commercial and private donors who have supported our actions within their means and thus helped the needy in Africa. May God bless you richly for every help.
If you requested a donation receipt and have not yet received it, it is enclosed.
Once again, thank you very much for all your help over the past year. Please continue to support our projects.
Christliches Hilfswerk für Afrika e.V.
Jan Pahl, Administration
In South Africa, Holger and his wife Kay run a home for orphans in Fisantekraal, which is located in the greater Cape Town area, run courses in various areas of life management and run soup kitchens. Their project centre in Fisantekraal was previously rented, but now savings and donations are enough to buy it; this is currently in the process. In his last newsletter, Holger wrote to us that, despite all the help, it is still a daily struggle to cover all the costs for his large orphan family, which have increased noticeably since the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine. However, with the help of loyal donors and God, the struggle has been won time and again so far. CHA donors have also contributed to this to a small extent.
Our main commitment continues to be focused on the bush village of Akim Ayerebi in Ghana. Linda Ahenkorah runs "our" school there, the Elim Academy. This school also struggles with a lack of funds, but with the help of donations and God's blessings, it has been able to function fully. In her annual report, which we received a few days ago, Linda, whose heart burns for the school, wrote to us, not without a little pride, that in the last exams of the graduating class, which are held nationwide, the best student received an award for his results - and he was a student at our school! As is often the case, the school's operations were complicated by the school bus breaking down, because the roads in Ayirebi and the surrounding area are very bad and expensive repairs were needed. The Mercedes service Schlüter & Söhne in Hamburg is a member of the Circle of Friends of the CHA, has made several large donations in the past, and has given us an open-ended payment period for the required spare parts this time, until funds allow again to pay the bill.
The medical centre has also made progress, but full hospital operations have not yet started, beyond the ambulance service and the examination station. Meanwhile, our impatient request from Hamburg is being answered with great embarrassment. Linda assures us that the last official requirements have recently been met, that the operating licence is now imminent, and that the inauguration is already being planned. Pastor Alfred is currently in Hamburg, but will travel to Ghana again at the beginning of March to oversee the opening of the hospital there. It was a huge project that Pastor Alfred and his team in Ayirebi had set out to accomplish in 2014, when they started this hospital. And the day of the inauguration will be celebrated there accordingly.
In mid-May, we expect Pastor Alfred back in Hamburg, together with a small team of teachers from the Elim Academy, for a training session: the company Wizard Gesellschaft für Textilkonzepte has donated a textile processing machine for vocational courses at the Elim Academy and will train the team in how to operate the machine.
Our thanks also go to the Dr. von Froreich Laboratory, which has donated two pallets of high-quality consumables for the hospital, to the international specialist transport company Hoyer and the Scheck Foundation for their repeated generous financial commitment over the past year, but also to many commercial and private donors who have supported our actions within their means and thus helped the needy in Africa. May God bless you richly for every help.
If you requested a donation receipt and have not yet received it, it is enclosed.
Once again, thank you very much for all your help over the past year. Please continue to support our projects.
Christliches Hilfswerk für Afrika e.V.
Jan Pahl, Administration
