Freedom Unlimited at Ebenezer

Skit on “Church” and how people respond.

“Freedom Unlimited” is group from Family Impact, Bulawayo that go around to schools, industry etc training people on Life Skills.

At the moment they are coming to Ebenezer Training Centre to teach the 1st year apprentices Life Skills. The training yesterday was on HIV/AIDS and how it enters the body.
Definitions were given:
H – Human
I – Immuno deficiency
V – Virus

How does HIV spread or increase? It spreads through bodily fluids with high or low concentration of HIV. e.g. blood = high, saliva = low, breast milk = high, sweat = low.
They also spoke about risk increasing conditions, ways of transmission, the importance of Voluntary and Counselling Testing.

The apprentices really enjoyed this session especially the skits.

We look forward to the next training session…….

By Molly Manhanga

Volunteering to help at the Selection Camp pt 3

Getting to know Tinashe Mugochi

M.M: How have you found the camp so far?
T.M: It has been mind blowing, good and humbling for me. The heart the staff have for the apprentices is humbling.

M.M: Any highlights?
T.M: Interacting with the prospective apprentices.

M.M: Where do you come from?
T.M: Harare

M.M: How long will you be with us in Kezi or Bulawayo?
T.M: 7 days and then I’ll head back to Harare. I’m working at Zim Kids and they have much the same heart as you guys.

M.M: What is your favourite quote?
T.M: Keep it plain stupid.

M.M: What do you do to relax?
T.M: Sleep, listen to music and take a walk on the golf course.

M.M: Thank you Tinashe. I hope you have a safe journey back to Harare.

By Molly Manhanga

Volunteering to help at the Selection Camp

Getting to know Hannah Gretton

M.M: How have you found the camp so far?
H.G: Interesting. The concept of Ebenezer and how everything works is really interesting.

M.M: Any highlights?
H.G: The games last night were such fun and the tour of the fields was interesting.

M.M: Where do you come from?
H.G: Nottingham in the U.K.

M.M: How long will you be with us in Kezi or Bulawayo?
H.G: Until Christmas. I’m working at Family Impact at the moment.

M.M: What is your favourite quote?
H.G: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” By Albert Eistein.

M.M: What do you do to relax?
H.G: Eat

M.M: Thank you so much Hannah. Enjoy your stay in Zimbabwe and I look forward to getting to know you more.

By Molly Manhanga

Selection Camp pt 2

After breakfast, the prospective apprentices toured the fields, seeing how the 1st years were working and how they were using Foundations for farming methods to grow their crops. A real eye-opener for some of them.

Maize crop at Ebenezer

Fun and games came with the Egg Drop led by Renee Cunningham and ably assisted by Lance Edwards, as well as throwing and catching an egg. The staff team of Stephen Manhanga and Tinashe Mugochi won the activity. A young lady caught the egg rather enthusiastically and had it crack directly onto her face – much to the delight of the spectators.

Egg catching game

The on-on-one interviews were a great opportunity for the Ebenezer team to learn more about each prospective apprentice in detail. The interviews are crucial as it is one of the major selection criteria. Our aim was to be able to select 30 new apprentices who would join the Ebenezer family on 2 November – and we got all 30.

All in all, the weekend was a huge success and we thank God for it.

Lance Edwards interviewing the apprentices

By Molly Manhanga

Selection Camp pt 1

Apprentices arriving at Ebenezer after a 5km run

Our desire was to have a new intake of 30 apprentices. We were so blessed when 43 prospective apprentices turned up for Selection Camp. The feel and atmosphere was great. Usually the new apprentices are shy and reserved when they come for registration, but this lot that we had were very friendly and lively and came with great expectation.
They were put into teams for the weekend and it was such fun seeing to them interacting, listening to the war cries and seeing the leaders rise to the occasion.


Stretch, bend, pull, jog…….could be heard early on the Saturday morning as Gerald Mangena got the new apprentices to run 5km. Huffing, puffing and a few complaints were heard as the girls said the distance was too long. Other groups encouraged each other and all 43 apprentices ran the distance in 20 minutes. Not bad, not bad at all!
They then had a morning devotional led by Stephen Manhanga and he encouraged them to work hard.

Early morning devotional with Stephen Manhanga

What a great start before breakfast!!
See what happens in the course of the day…….

by molly manhanga

Selection Camp Preparations underway at Ebenezer

It was wonderful to see 19 apprentices graduate in August this year. 8 of the 19 have since joined the graduate programme and are working really hard.

This weekend – 9 to 11 October, we are having our fourth Selection camp out here in Kezi. We are really hoping that many, many young people between the ages of 18 and 25 years turn up for the camp.

Our preps are underway and the Ebenezer team is ready for this “jam-packed” weekend. Our catchment areas have increased as prospective apprentices have now applied from Njelele, Silozwe, Mapane, Simbumbumbi, Lushumbe, Masiye, Mablauwuni and possibly Mauwabeni areas. These areas range from between an hour to 4 or 5 hours walk from Ebenezer. Now this is an excellent sign!

Watch this space for more on the Selection Camp “09”.

By Molly Manhanga