ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
Refilwe Community Project was founded in 1991 by Jean Stewart and Yvonne Jacques as a Christian community development initiative to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ among people in the Lanseria area. Jean, a professional nurse, and Yvonne, a Pastor, started the health care clinic in order to assist and help meet the needs of the underprivileged people in Lanseria.
From 1991 to 2005 they established a primary health care clinic which incorporated home based care and tuberculosis management programs, a hospice, a school and a shelter for abandoned children. This was done with the help of numerous sponsors and donors.
Refilwe has developed a strong focus on child care, community care and skills development since 2005. Today Refilwe Community Project is a multi-focused registered Non-Profit and Public Benefit Organisation serving many of the communities in Lanseria.
The core purpose and motivation of Refilwe has not changed since the small beginnings at Drummond. After 23 years we made the move from the rather “hand to mouth” mode of the early years, with its informal structures and processes, to a formal management structure with appropriate policies and procedures as required for good corporate governance, compliant to the Companies Act and other legislation.
HISTORY
1991
Jean Stewart and Yvonne Jacques started to work in the community of Drummond near Lanseria. They desired to see people loved and cared for under an Apartheid government. They served the needs of the community with all the resources they could find.
2005
An opportunity for new land was presented by the Anglican Church and Refilwe moved to the current premises, enabling it to expand it’s programs and impact. Refilwe formalised its registrations and became a registered institute.
2015
Refilwe now runs 8 programs in Lanseria: God Parent Foster Care Program, El Roi Baby Home, Refilwe Preschool, ECD Outreach, Kids Club, Holiday Club, and Ithuteng Aftercare (including the Recycling program). These programs reach more than 1000 children.
VISION
MISSION
• To assist our surrounding communities in providing their children opportunities to thrive spiritually, socially, emotionally and materially
• To generate income to support the work of Refilwe
• To model Christian lifestyle (respect, integrity, responsibility, accountability, work ethic) to the children of Refilwe and the surrounding community
GOALS
• Appoint a full- time Social Worker or Psychologist to provide holistic counseling and training to our children and families.
• With appropriate resources, increase the number of children benefiting from the Godparent program to 40.
• Increase the capacity of El Roi Baby Home to 20 babies.
• Increase the number of children reached through our ECD program.