Ebenezer graduation

It was wonderful seeing the turnout at Ebenezer’s second graduation. Proud parents and guardians walked many hours to see their loved ones graduating. People from Harare and Bulawayo made a special effort to attend as well as folk from in and around the Mablauwuni community.

Left to right invited guests: B.J Mpofu, Brian Oldreive, Peter Cunningham, David Cunningham

Our guests of honour were B.J Mpofu – former headmaster of Petra School (Private School in Bulawayo) and Brian Oldreive (Founder and Pioneer of Foundations for Farming). We had our class that was graduating as well as our graduates who had finished a year on our graduate programme.

George Mlilo, responsible for Agriculture at Ebenezer was our master of ceremony and did a great job of introducing people and getting the programme moving. The Union Brothers (Ebenezer’s own male arcapela singing group) entertained the crowd and the skits were good. We had our own Ebenezer Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) news where the graduates reported on what was happening at Ebenezer – the latest news.

B.J Mpofu (left) with George Mlilo (right)

The speech from B.J Mpofu was inspirational as he shared abit about his 38 years in Education and encouraged not only the graduating class but all the apprentices, on the importance of education and following ones dreams. All things are possible. Brian was amazing as usual as he shared on the heart of Foundations for Farming: being faithful with little, doing things on time, God’s Kingdom being the upside down Kingdom, how God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, in order to go up, one must go down, not doing things for ourselves or being selfish. He encouraged the young people to farm and cited that the first job God gave Adam in the Bible was to tend to the garden. Brian shared magnificently on heart issues.

Time for the graduation itself to begin; As the graduating class and graduates went up to receive their awards, it was wonderful seeing the parents and guardians run up to hug their loved ones and congratulate them. The graduating class each received a certificate for their completion of 2 years, a shovel and a hoe. Special awards were given to those who excelled in Spiritual, Business and Agriculture. We also gave a prize to the overall, most well rounded and behaved apprentice and that went to Bukhosi Dube.

Brian Oldreive

Renee Cunningham gave a vote of thanks and we all had lunch and fellowshipped together. It was a good graduation and we now look forward to the new intake of apprentices arriving on 4th January 2011.

Some of the parents and guardians attending the graduation ceremony




By Molly Manhanga