GEORGE NEWS - It was a cheerful crowd that attended the annual general meeting at Life Community Services (LCS) at the Happy Feet Learning Centre, for, not far away, people were working to re-erect the Life Christian Academy (LCA) classrooms at their new address in Fiskaal Street, Parkdene.
Life's new property is twice as big as the premises they rented for the past 17 years in Main Street.
The acquisition was negotiated in the nick of time, and donations for a deposit also came at the last minute. Life has to vacate their old premises by end August. At the meeting outgoing board chairperson Solette Coetsee said LCS has been through a "rough, but miraculous" year. She handed over the reins to James Robb.
CEO Maryna de Vries said that only six weeks ago they had no idea where to go, but individuals came forward after distress calls were sent out to the public, also through the George Herald. "God opened up the property and He added people in every sphere - from a land surveyor, town planner and architect, to security people, a builder, attorney, and someone who negotiated on our behalf with the property owner."
They faced some difficulties once they started clearing the property, discovering that beneath the topsoil, layer upon layer of rubbish was buried. A kind-hearted businessman sent trucks and a tractor to clean it up.
"For us it is a symbol of how many more lives of those down in the dumps are going to be changed for the better. It will be trash to treasures, dump to destiny," said De Vries. "When I drive past there and I see the buildings going up, my heart sings."
Members of the LCS board, from left: Maryna de Vries, Philip de Vries, Neziswa Matiso, Solette Coetsee (outgoing chairperson), James Robb (new chairperson) and director Sally Versveld. Photo: Alida de Beer
Accounts by staff members of how their lives have been impacted since their involvement with Life were tremendously inspiring. Life still has to raise about R4-million towards the property's price and further development of the land will be needed.
More details regarding LCS or the property project and funding opportunity are available from Onne Vegter (onne@wild-wings-safaris.com). Life property a symbol of 'dump to destiny'.
Read a related article: Life starts building on new property
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