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This is the last weekly update for this year as we have now officially closed for the year, except for Hermanus Country Market where we will have a stall as often as possible over the next few weeks. Our excellent volunteers (Walter and Sarah) with two young people will manage this stall for us. For us, it is not simply about “selling drums”: it is about telling the Volmoed Youth story to as many people as possible. We are the most outward-facing ministry of Volmoed and it is important that we share whatever good news we have to share.
Continue readingThank you to those of you who read and respond to our weekly update. Please feel free to tell me if you do not wish to continue to receive it (we will still love you!). Next week will be our last weekly update for this year as we officially close on 11 December and re-open on 8 January 2026. We need to rest …
A special thanks to Les and Cheryl from the Quest women’s group in Hermanus for your visit to us and your wonderful donation! Les put us in touch with Elaine, the owner of the Country Market in Hermanus – at the cricket grounds – who offered us a space at the market where we can drum and sell drums. We will definitely be taking up this opportunity from this week!
Continue readingOur leadership team met online this week. Sam White from Atlanta joined the team for the first time this week. Welcome Sam. He, together with his wife Janalene (originally from Durban), are alumnae of VYLTP 2016.
One of the decisions we made was to hold our 10th anniversary celebrations from
12–16 June 2026 as we can take advantage of that weekend. We hope that many of the alumnae as well as others between the ages of 18 and 35 will join us. Our theme will be “I call you friends” with a sub-theme of “From fear to courageous community”. How do we build friendships rather than fear? We look forward to some deep and joyful reflection on those themes.
This morning about 40 young adults will gather at Volmoed for a “Taizé day” under the theme “Advent hope for young people”. Besides the local young people, there will be 15 young people from Khayelitsha in Cape Town and others from across the Western Cape.
Also, one of our delegates to Taizé in France (Cleo) returns home this morning after five weeks in France due to personal reasons. We will embrace her upon her return. We have been getting photographs and videos from Masixole: this week they experienced snow in France!
Continue readingThe Volmoed Youth Leadership Training Programme (VYLTP) invites you to participate in the ‘Pilgrimage of Trust Gathering in South Africa’ in the style of Taizé. The gathering is for young people between the ages of 18 to 35 years (other older age groups are most welcomed) from different denominations, to gather, on Saturday, 22 November 2025. Just complete the form: https://forms.gle/sGoyj7XzfAjbNqQw6
Let us gather to be in solidarity, which is an effort to bring the body of Christ together, uniting us through song, praise, silence, workshop/s and listening to the Word and each other, as we strive to rekindle the ecumenical spirit in with our beloved South Africa and beyond. We would love to make this an inclusive and intergenerational event. The gathering will take place at Volmoed Retreat Centre in Hemel-en-Aarde.
#TaizeSA2025 #Hope #VYLTP
A year ago, we were in the USA on our “Drumming for unity and healing” tour. It was a few days after Trump’s election and many people felt encouraged by our presence.
Yesterday I counted that we have at least seven USA groups and one group from Canada visiting us in 2026.
6 overseas tourists=1 job
Township tourism
VYLTP
A year ago, we landed in the USA thanks to ICMEP in Fort Wayne, its director Michael Spath, the Caldwells and many many other wonderful people. We had a Eucharist service at Volmoed with Archbishop Rowan Williams and then left for the USA. One day we will write up this incredible story of our 17-day 10 city/town USA 2024 visit entitled “Drumming for Unity and Healing”. Thank you to our dear dear friends in the USA! You all have a special place in our hearts.
Continue readingWe have about six weeks to go before the programme closes for the year. During this time we will join the bigger Volmoed family in celebrating the 40th anniversary of Volmoed!
For those who do not know, the farm “Volmoed” (meaning full of courage and hope) was bought in 1986. South Africa was in a state of emergency and the church had to step in to both oppose the deep injustice in society and also to hold people together. The Kairos document was launched in 1985 and the Belhar confession in 1986. There was also a movement called the NIR (National Initiative for Reconciliation). It was important to have a place such as Volmoed where Christians from all denominations could meet to reflect, to rest and to recharge for this struggle. Fortunately, by 1990, with the unbanning of the political movements and the release of political prisoners, we could begin our journey towards a non-racial society. We are not there yet.
The challenge of youth unemployment, youth poverty and youth marginalisation remains a key challenge on our journey towards a more just, peaceful and reconciled society. These challenges are what VYLTP – launched ten years ago – is now addressing on a daily basis. We focus mainly on young people from Zwelihle and Mt Pleasant, but some of the work (eg our Taizé days) are for others in the Western Cape as well.
Our next Taizé day is on 22 November at Volmoed. Young people between 18 and 35 years old are welcome. The Saturday before that is when we go to the UCT Graduate School of Business and the Groote Kerk in Cape Town.
Highlights of the past week
Thank you for all your support! Please remember that the 10/10/10 campaign is ongoing and if you would like to give R10/$10/€10/£10 per month for the next ten months, we will really appreciate it! Please visit the 10/10/10 campaign page.
It was great to connect with Seth Naicker, one of the VYLTP leadership team members, in Johannesburg this week!
Our thoughts and prayers today are with Anna Carmichael (a supporter of VYLTP) who has made herself available to become the Episcopal Bishop for a diocese in California. Strength to you, Anna!
Continue readingThis was a week of new insights, new connections and new experiences, especially with the visit of 26 Americans.
Please say a daily prayer for all unemployed young people in South Africa, and especially for those who are part of the Volmoed youth programme. Their challenges are legion but their hope is stronger. Hope always wins!
Edwin Arrison
WhatsApp: +27 847351835
Volmoed Youth 