Global Orphan Relief Announces –ANGELS IN THE DUST showing January 31, 2009, at 7:00 PM.

Parker, CO – Global Orphan Relief (GO!) today announced the scheduled showing of ANGELS IN THE DUST to be held in the Hellenic Community Center on the campus of the Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Metropolis Cathedral of Denver (Assumption Cathedral), 4610 E. Alameda Avenue, Denver, CO 80246, Phone: (303) 388-9314, on January 31, 2009 at 7PM.

ANGELS IN THE DUST is the inspiring story of Marion Cloete, a university-trained therapist who—with her husband and two daughters—fearlessly walked away from a privileged life in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb to establish Boikarabelo (formerly Botshabelo), an extraordinary village and school that provide shelter, food, and education to more than 550 South African children.

The tale of Marion and the orphans she cares for is echoed in a dramatic parallel saga of the orphaned elephants of Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. The longtime government practice of culling— killing adult elephants to control herd sizes—tore apart the complex social fabric of elephant culture, a fabric that is not unlike that of the traditionally close-knit African village. As a result, orphaned elephants grew up exhibiting unusually violent behavior, such as attacking and goring rhinos. But elder elephants were recently introduced into the Pilanesberg population to resocialize the young. The experiment is working—and it offers a resonant reflection of the healing taking place for the human children being “reparented” by Marion at Boikarabelo (formerly Botshabelo).

ANGELS IN THE DUST is the story of a courageous, self-sacrificing, fiercely loving woman who chooses a spiritual path over a material one; it tells of the life-changing power of one compassionate heart. For a nation overwhelmed by an epidemic of HIV/AIDS, orphans, rape, violence, and Apartheid’s legacy of social and political unrest, the film offers a clear pathway of hope and a replicable paradigm for the future.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called HIV/AIDS “the new Apartheid.” By the year 2010, 100 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa will be infected with HIV/AIDS, and 26 million children will be orphaned as a result of the virus. In South Africa alone, six million adults and children are infected, but the government has turned a blind eye to the mounting pandemic.

"...Nothing short of wondrous" -- NY MagazineANGELS IN THE DUST won the 2007 Emerging Pictures/Full Frame Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the 2007 Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival.

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Doors will open at 6PM, and showing will include opportunities to purchase products from Africa in our International Bizarre before and after the film. There is no admission to the event, but a donation of $3 is suggested. This event will be held to build awareness for the plight of Orphans around the world, and to fund various GO! projects in Congo (DRC), Mexico, Uganda, Zambia, and the US.

Global Orphan Relief is a relief agency established in 2005 to serve Orphans specifically. Their work has included projects, funding, and speaking engagements in Myanmar, Mexico, Zambia, and the U.S. GO!’s largest project to date is House of Faith Orphanage, located in Silembe, Zambia, where they currently host 22 Orphans and plan to grow the project to host 72 of these very vulnerable children. Currently, all activity is handled by volunteers and GO! has no paid staff. This allows all but of a small fraction of funds to be used in the field. GO!’s mission is to provide loving support for Orphans fostering a greater capacity for physical, spiritual, and emotional healing and growth.


--GO!--

GO! Contact: Scott A. Nordstrom (303) 840-1123
www.globalorphanrelief.org

Assumption Cathedral: Main Office (303) 388-9314
www.assumptioncathedral.org

Sponsoring UAE orphans

gulfnews.com
By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
Published: January 16, 2009, 23:34

Dubai: Taking care of an orphan in the UAE is not as complex as one maybe led to believe. A number of charity centres are responsible for orphans and their well-being and it is their task to manage all funds donated by good samaritans.

According to United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), children around the globe have the right to an adequate standard of living, health care, education, the right to play and good quality healthcare.

One charity organisation that offers sponsorship services is the Al Ihsan Charity Centre, located in Ajman. The Centre started its operation in 1990 through the efforts of individuals until a residence was officially established in 1998 under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman.

Read More..........

ADOPTION: The heart of the Gospel

Baptist Press
Posted on Jan 16, 2009 by Thomas White

Adopting Rachel taught Thomas much about spiritual adoption, Thomas says.

In the New Testament, four passages address the theological importance of adoption, two using the term "orphan," and one special example of adoption.

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GO! | Upcoming trip

We have a team departing for Zambia on November 4th, and I am looking for to so many things.

During this past month's fundraising furor, we have raised funds for travel expenses, construction at the Orphanage site, and child sponsorships. To include all the commitments not yet collected, we have raised nearly $17,000 for construction costs at the Orphanage and child sponsorships.

For this round of funding, we only have about 1,200 bricks to go. It has been encouraging to see so many people come together for these kids.

We will be funding construction of another home in November and December, $10,500, furniture for the home at $3,500, and will be seeking sponsors for the remaining children.

As of 10/29/08, we still have 8 of our 19 children that are not sponsored. We currently are spending approximately $85 per month to care for each child, and our sponsorships are either subsidized by GO! from our general fund, or in some cases the child is sponsored twice. Our sponsorships are $50 per child, per month, with a one year committment.

For more information on supporting our children please see: http://www.globalorphanrelief.org/ChildrenofSilembe.html

Blessings!

SA will have 2,5m orphans by 2010

October 24 2007 at 08:40AM
By Mercury reporter

Little children are not supposed to die before grownups, but a staggering number in South Africa do, because they are left without proper care by a society overwhelmed by the rising need for social welfare.

In many state-funded child welfare centres, social workers - who are among the worst paid professionals in the country - are battling with 300-500 cases each, says Antje Hockley who runs the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation, founded by Unilever.

Hockley, speaking at a fund-raising function organised by Unilever this week, said an estimated 25 000 new social welfare cases were presented to social workers countrywide every month, and children's homes were battling to cope.

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Weeping orphan tells of her lonely life

September 08 2008 at 10:40AM
By Gavin Stewart

A sobbing teenage girl has told a packed Methodist Church in this eastern Cape Town that she had lived alone in her home since her parents died, with no money and little food.

The girl, identified only as Nomzamo, burst into tears as she began speaking.

"After my mother and father died I had no money to go to school. I had to give up. I have nothing."

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Orphans need homes - state appeals

October 28 2008 at 09:28AM

The number of orphaned children in South Africa is estimated at 1,5-million, according to Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya.

Although the country had done "incredibly well" to provide a safety net for the poor, which included giving a child support grant to 8,3-million children, more needed to be done, Skweyiya said on Monday.

Read More........