Meniscus

Our dear friends (and I hesitate to say friends because they are like family to us), Scott and Becky Lycan are living the majority of the year in South Africa doing some amazingly loving work among the people there. They have started a non-profit called Meniscus. I met Scott and Becky through Tyson who has been very close to them since his college days. Scott actually performed our wedding ceremony. Needless to say we look up to this entire family and admire them on so many levels. Okay, so I thought I would copy and paste a portion of a recent newsletter we received updating us on all the life changing things they have going on in the townships of South Africa. One project I personally want to share with you is something Becky has been a key part of, and that is Project Hands of Grace. Project Hands of Grace was developed to help women acquire skills in sewing, needlework, crocheting, kitting, weaving, and business skills. The women make homegoods, clothing, and other unique items to sell in Masoyi township and other places. I actually have a few of these items stateside and photos, so let me know if you would be interested in purchasing any or have ideas for a venue to sell them. One thing that really touched my heart is that many of these women are older "grandmother" types who have lost their own children to HIV/AIDS. They are caring for their orphaned grandchildren. Some have HIV/AIDS themselves and they walk a remarkably long distance to meet with the sewing group each week. I believe there have been enough sewing machines acquired now for each lady to use one. Here are some photos that Becky sent. I just love them.

This woman's daughter died of HIV/AIDS and she is now taking care of her grandchild.

Here are the women gathered around the table working on their projects. You can see the joy and pride on each of their faces as they work on their creations.

Here are the details from a recent email outlining the other projects going on there:

Litsemba “Hope” Community Center

With the completion of the center building, training and program development are in final stages for the following ministries to begin work:

• A Pregnancy Care “Options Center” in cooperation with Youth for Christ South Africa. This ministry targets young people dealing with pregnancy, providing community support, training, and skills development in areas of basic decision-making, goal setting, pre-natal care, sexual integrity, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, personal ethics, healthy parenting, gender roles, becoming a good spouse, marriage building, nutrition, and goal setting.
• An After School Tutoring for students in grade levels 10-12, focusing on math, science, and English.
• A Micro-Enterprise Development program in partnership with South Africa’s Phakamani and Opportunity International which identifies and equips local entrepreneurs in small business development. This program helps individuals prepare business plans, makes low interest micro-loans, and mentors through the first two years of the business start-up.
• LifeSkills for Success offers training in self-esteem, goal-setting, job application and employment preparation, managing health and money, writing a business plan, and assertiveness training. This program is a collaborative effort with Youth for Christ and the RSA Dept. of Health & Human Services.

Total cost to renovate the Litsemba Center in preparation for the programs: $19,600 USD + 1400 volunteer hours. Your support has provided Meniscus the ability to directly contribute $2,600 USD + 900 volunteer hours towards the completion of this project.

We are in urgent need of funding for our portion of facility & program costs. $250 USD per month enables existing projects to grow and new programs to launch from the Litsemba Center.

Discipleship and Leadership Training

25 young adults are now being trained in the Discovery Bible Study method, basic micro-church planting and discipleship. These young leaders are being released two-by-two to go into the community, find people of peace, and begin planting small, reproducible, gospel-sowing groups that meet local needs. DBS groups meet weekly four days a week. Becky and Scott Lycan do not lead these groups, but serve as strategy coordinators and “aunts & uncles” within these groups. Just this week a new DBS has started in our own neighborhood. Both neighbors are recently unemployed and realized that this is a time to draw close to God. They knocked on our door and asked us to help them!

Feeding Projects

Meniscus partners with South Africa’s Mamkulu.org to provide food staples for local children (particularly orphans and vulnerable children) who are unable to qualify for government programs, typically because they lack proper paperwork –parent death certificates, birth certificates, immigration & health cards, etc.

Project Hands of Grace

Meniscus partners with this non-profit women’s sewing guild which empowers women to feed their families, learn micro-enterprise skills, and develop a strong community of faith and mutual support. A Discovery Bible Study group meets weekly after every sewing group gathering. Fifteen women are engaged in the Masoyi work, and over 100 family members are being feed. A second Grace project site will be launched within the next month.

Second Harvest

This seasonal gleaning program through which local farmers and produce distributors supply free access to fresh fruits and vegetables has provided over 6 tons of food to needy homes, especially targeting widows, ‘grannies’, orphans and vulnerable children. A recent donor contributed an additional 4 ½ tons of dried beans. All gleaning to-date been through volunteer efforts led by South African partner Kobus DeWit. However, this work has been temporarily suspended for lack of finances for transportation.

Needless to say they are making a HUGE difference there and at the same time their needs are real and substantial. If this touches your heartstrings and you would like to support them in this valuable social justice, community development endeavor it's super easy to go to www.meniscusinc.com and donate through paypal. Think about giving a one time gift or even sending monthly support. Most of us can't pack up and move to Africa (although I wouldn't doubt it if we do at some point), but we can support the efforts of those who are directly pouring out their time and energy to help the poorest of the poor.

By the way, I would love to hear your comments after reading about this. What stands out to you most? Do you have a heart for the poor or for social justice, microbusiness, etc.?