Newsletter February 2026
WOW Day 2026 – Searching Our Hearts as We Serve
As the new year begins, WOW – Women of Worth gathered for a powerful and meaningful start to 2026. More than 55 women and men who faithfully serve the communities of Hillcrest and Newrest came together with one shared purpose: to align our hearts with God before stepping into another year of service.
This gathering is more than just an event. It is a moment of reflection, realignment, and renewal. Before we pour into others, we pause and ask God to examine our own hearts.
The theme for 2026 is rooted in the prayer found in Psalm 139:23–24:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
This verse invites us into a posture of humility and openness before God. As those who serve vulnerable communities, we recognize that our work must flow from hearts that are continually shaped by Him.
During the gathering, Stephanie shared a powerful message about God as the Gardener of our hearts. She reminded us that God’s heart is not distant or removed. Instead, He is actively involved in the love, healing, and restoration of people.
God’s heart is marked by unconditional love, holiness, deep compassion, and perfect justice. He is eternal, faithful, merciful, and full of grace toward those who turn to Him. And above all, God is holy.
Just like a gardener tends to a garden, God tends to our hearts.
A gardener never stops caring for the garden. In the same way, God is constantly working in us.
He prunes us so that we can grow.
He turns the soil to prepare our hearts.
He adds nourishment through His Word.
He waters and protects us through His Spirit.
Pruning can sometimes be uncomfortable, but it is always done with purpose. When we listen to God’s Word and His Spirit, and when we follow in obedience, our lives become pleasing and acceptable to Him.
Our obedience becomes a visible expression of our love for God.
And when that happens, growth follows.
Growth in character.
Growth in faith.
Growth in compassion.
Growth in the way we serve others.
As we move forward into 2026, we commit to serving with humility, unity, and hearts that remain open to God’s refining work. When our hearts are aligned with His, our service becomes more than work — it becomes a reflection of His love in the communities we serve.
Measuring What Matters: How We Track Real Change in Families’ Lives
At Ma’s vir Wellington, we believe that meaningful impact goes far beyond numbers. While it is important to know how many children participate in our programmes, what truly matters is the difference being made in their lives and in the wellbeing of their families.
This is why we use Wellbi, a comprehensive digital assessment platform designed specifically for organisations that care for vulnerable children and families. Wellbi provides a structured and reliable way for organisations to measure wellbeing and track progress over time.
The platform includes a standard assessment for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), developed in collaboration with universities and based on the internationally recognised Child Status Index (CSI) framework. This evidence-based approach allows organisations to assess children’s wellbeing across key areas of life and identify where support is most needed. In addition, Wellbi allows organisations to create customised assessments tailored to their specific programmes and community needs.
Why This Matters for Our Work
Every year, new children join our Children’s Ministry programme. At the start of the year, with parental consent, we conduct a baseline Wellbi assessment for the whole family. This helps us gain a clearer understanding of each child’s environment and circumstances from the very beginning.
During the first term, our three fieldworkers visit more than 50 families in their homes. These personal visits allow us to ask questions across four important domains that help us build a fuller picture of each family’s wellbeing.
Once the information is captured in the Wellbi system, the data is displayed visually on a dashboard. This allows our team to see where families may need additional support. From there, we can track interventions, referrals, and progress over time, ensuring that families receive the help they need.
Supporting Better Planning and Accountability
From a management perspective, Wellbi provides an organisational dashboard that gives us a bird’s-eye view of the wellbeing of the families we serve. It also allows us to securely store documentation, track programme attendance, monitor absentees, and record the work completed by our team.
This information helps us plan better, respond faster, and remain accountable to the communities we serve as well as to our supporters and funders.
Collaboration for Greater Impact
Platforms like Wellbi remind us how important collaboration within the NGO sector truly is. Meyer Conradie and his team developed Wellbi to provide organisations with a digital tool that helps keep accurate records, generate meaningful statistics, and share measurable impact with funders.
Most importantly, the data helps organisations like ours identify real needs and secure the resources required to continue supporting vulnerable children and families.
To learn more about Wellbi, click the link below.
“Our vision is to help organisations move beyond counting the number of beneficiaries they serve, and instead quantify the change they are effecting in people’s lives.” – Meyer Conradie, CEO of Wellbi.
“Don’t Drop the Ball”: Walking the Parenting Journey Together
Each year, as new families join our Children’s Ministry, we are given the beautiful opportunity to start fresh relationships with mothers, fathers, and grandparents.
The little ones arrive bright-eyed. Some are excited, some shy, and some hold tightly to a parent’s hand as they step into a new environment. The parents feel much the same. Some arrive confident, others nervous, and a few are familiar faces—parents enrolling their third or fourth child in our programme over the years.
Our parenting sessions always begin with something simple and playful: a group activity where parents form a circle and pass a ball from person to person without using their hands.
The exercise quickly fills the room with laughter—but it also carries an important message.
The ball represents a child. Throughout life, children move from one caregiver to another, from parent to teacher, from family to community. At times the journey is smooth, and at times it is challenging. But the message remains the same:
Do not drop the ball.
Every child is precious—fearfully and wonderfully made—and it is our shared responsibility to care for them as they grow through the stages of childhood and school.
Building the Foundations for Healthy Families
During our introduction session, Salome guided parents through the basics of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a well-known framework that explains how human wellbeing is built layer by layer.
Maslow described five levels of needs that shape human development:
- Basic needs – food, rest, shelter and physical care
- Safety – stability, protection and emotional security
- Love and belonging – family relationships, friendships and acceptance
- Esteem – confidence, dignity and feeling valued
- Self-actualisation – reaching one’s potential and pursuing)
Research suggests that in everyday life people often have their basic needs about 85% satisfied, safety about 70%, belonging about 50%, esteem about 40%, and only a small portion—around 10%—reach the level of self-actualisation at any given time.
This reminds us how important the foundations of life are. When children feel safe, loved, and valued, they are far more likely to grow into healthy adults who can dream, learn, and contribute positively to their communities.
Honest Conversations with Parents
Parents spent time reflecting together and discussing important questions:
- Which needs in the Maslow triangle are most important in raising a child?
- How do we care for our own wellbeing as parents?
- Are our homes and communities emotionally safe spaces for children?
- Do our children feel loved and secure?
These conversations opened meaningful discussions about emotional safety, trust, and healthy attachment—all essential elements in a child’s development.
Although we only scratched the surface in this first session, it is the beginning of an eight-session parenting journey we will walk together throughout the year.
Walking the Journey Together
Parenting is never meant to be done alone. Through these sessions, we hope every family will feel supported, encouraged, and equipped for the important role they play in shaping young lives.
Together, we hold the ball.
And together, we will do our best not to drop it.
Welcoming our new ECD teacher
We are excited to welcome a new Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher to our team at Mas vir Wellington. Her journey with us began as a volunteer, and through dedication, growth, and a deep love for working with children, she has now stepped into this new role. Here she shares a little about her journey.
My daughter, Shaunica, was first part of Mas vir Wellington. The late Auntie Sarie, a former Tannie mamma, would often tell me about the wonderful things they did at Ma’s, and that made me curious to experience it for myself. I then approached Salome to ask if I could get involved. From the very beginning she made me feel comfortable and warmly welcomed.
My first day as a volunteer was a wonderful experience, and I immediately felt like part of the team. I never felt like “just a volunteer” compared to the staff – instead, I always felt included and valued.
My child was part of both the Children’s Ministry and the ECD programme. Today I can clearly see the fruits of that experience. The foundation that was laid, especially through the Amazing Brainz programme offered by Mas vir Wellington, was very informative and meaningful.
Ma’s vir Wellington also provided me with opportunities to attend training and workshops with Amazing Brainz and Inceba. Salome further encouraged me to continue learning, and with her support I enrolled in an online course and successfully completed my Level 4 ECD qualification last year.
I volunteered for two years. It was not always easy, as I also had other responsibilities, but despite the challenges I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity that was given to me. Through this journey I learned so much and experienced tremendous personal and professional growth.
During this time my relationship with God also grew stronger, and my relationships with the staff at Mas vir Wellington deepened. My relationship with my principal has also improved greatly, and today we share a very good understanding.
I truly feel loved and blessed to be part of this team, and I look forward to continuing this journey together.
We are grateful to have her as part of the Mas vir Wellington family and look forward to the impact she will continue to make in the lives of our children.
Be part of a child’s strong start
Give with heart. Save on tax. Your donation qualifies for a Section 18A certificate.
Support the children and adults with intellectual disabilities in our programs and receive a Section 18A tax certificate.
Every donation counts — and it’s tax-deductible too!
Contact Lizette Fereirra: lizette@masvirwellington.co.za
