Saturday, October 22, 2011

Black Rhino having a snack



One of the perks of living in Africa is getting the thrill of observing wildlife in their natural habitat.  The sights, the sounds, the smells.... well, you'll have to use your imagination for the smells part!  Quite remarkable animals.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Another Success Story!

Adam applied for the YDM program along with about 30 other young people. He completed all the requirements for the program and smiled his way through the interview process. Something about his determination to improve his life circumstances touched us and we accepted him and nine others into the program last February.


As we became more acquainted with each student, we heard their stories and listened as they shared their struggles. Adam confessed that he had been a party person the past few years, but also made a point of letting us know that he knew – that was a dead end road. We watched as day by day, lesson by lesson, Adam grew strong in character and pushed through to meet his goals. He proved to be a great server, with excellent communication skills and warm smile which made his customers comfortable. He showed respect for authority, concern for his classmates and demonstrated a team player attitude. Whether serving tables or prep-cooking in the kitchen, Adam stayed focused and thorough in his training.

At the conclusion of the program Adam received a letter of recommendation from Garden Cafe and had achieved the confidence to apply for work in hospitality. We had not seen Adam in about three months and wondered how he was doing. Just a week ago, Adam walked into the cafe with a big smile greeting us warmly. What a pleasant surprise!

Of course, we asked him what he was doing now. He proudly reported that he is working at a busy restaurant in Windhoek, making good money and enjoying it. We could see the satisfaction on his face. He had received a boost forward by being in the YDM program and now he was moving ahead – setting goals and finding the success he only dreamed about one year ago.

This is what we get excited about and what motivates us to continue when it gets challenging. Young people like Adam determined to succeed just need a little push in the right direction.