2016 so far: highlights at Berakah

After years of pushing through for a few significant achievements in 2014 and 2015, this year has brought several breakthroughs with it by August.

Facility improvements

The kitchen walls have been plastered and painted. The bare concrete floors are now leveled and tiled. A hand washing basin (sink) is now installed, as well as a geyser (water heater). This improvements are a significant step towards meeting health code requirements for certification.

​A local building company installed and painted gutters on our classroom buildings. Additionally, they weather-sealed the roof on one classroom building. The stoops in front of the classroom blocks have been repaired and new steps added to meet safety requirements, and all of the bathroom stalls are newly painted.

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Governance

As a non-profit organization in South Africa, Berakah must comply with many regulatory and governance requirements overseen by several different agencies in the South African government. Many of these requirements had never been fulfilled by previous leadership due to lack of awareness. In addition, the purchase of land for Berakah in the mid-1990s had never been completely finalized, leaving the center with no title deed for its own property.

• ​Land: The property transfer fee was paid in full, paving the way for Berakah to possess its title deed after nearly twenty years of waiting and deliberation. An old municipality debt of $20,000 is now down to $1,000 (in the beginning of the year it was roughly at $4,800). Canceling this debt marks one of the final barriers to obtaining that deed.
• SARS: After an almost two-year process, Berakah has received tax clearance certificate in good standing with the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
• UIF:  For the first time in its history, Berakah has achieved full compliance with Department of Labour Requirements concerning the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

Prayer points for further breakthrough

It's only August, and we are believing God for more breakthrough in 2016! Please pray with us as we push through in the following areas.

• Property Transfer: Pray that the Municipality will release our rates clearance certificate so that Berakah can complete the transfer and obtain the title deed for its property.
• Health Certificate: Final kitchen renovations are needed to obtain a health certificate. These include commercial basins (huge sinks), stainless steel counters and tables, construction of a small outside enclosure for gas bottles, a four-burner gas boiling table, and the repair of broken windows. Please pray for provision and for service providers to do quality work.
• Early Childhood Development registration: An ECD registration with South Africa's Department of Social Development will bring an official stamp of approval to Berakah's great work as well as much needed government funding for daily operations and staff salaries. It is a difficult process to accomplish gain this registration. Berakah still lacks all of the following before it can apply: its property title deed, health inspection certificate, safety upgrades to the playground area, step stools in the bathrooms and child toilet seats, fire extinguishers and fire/emergency inspection, and progress towards certification for Berakah's principal and Grade R (like Kindergarten) teachers.
• Occupancy certificate: In order to apply for a required occupancy certificate, Berakah must submit building plans to the city along with an application. Please pray for an architect to donate hours to draw up Berakah’s building plans and for favor with the city government.

Upcoming Plans

Hearing and Vision Screening for the children

• please pray for eye doctors to come on board to help the children identified with eye problems
• Immunizations
• please pray for the parents to take responsibility to sign consents

Kendall Cromwell from the Bridge church in Denton will visit in September and assist Berakah with its marketing strategy.