The Shalom Baptist Church at Tshikota recently received visitors from Texas in the USA and also from neighbouring Polokwane, who all came to accompany the church in an outreach programme in Tshikota.

Pastor Philemon Mashau said that the team had a door-to-door visit in the houses where they accessed the challenges faced by the residents. people of Tshikota. “Our main purpose was to find out the challenges, so that we may find ways to help the residents where we can,” said Mashau.

The team established that there are many families headed by children who sometimes sleep on empty stomachs. The church has so far opened a centre for boys between the ages of five and 18, to try to minimise the problem where youths, particularly boys, are found roaming the streets and scavenging inside the rubbish containers in town.

“As the church, we are ready to meet the needs of the community,” said Mashau. “People must remember that the church has always had a vital role to play in combating social ills such as hunger, discrimination and more.”

Mashau said that one of the biggest challenges in Tshikota was the continuous lack of water. “We are busy planning to arrange for a borehole for the community of Tshikota in the near future,” added Mashau.

On 20 June, the team distributed food parcels to at least 20 child-headed families during an event held at Tshikota Community Hall.

Brad Hixiom, who headed the team from Fannin Terrace Baptist Church at Midland in Texas, USA, said that the condition of child-headed families in Tshikota had touched them deeply. “This picture will remain in our minds for a long time,” he added.