My name is New Beginnings and this is my story…
Many moons ago, when the town of Bethlehem was younger and prettier, I was erected in a part of the town called Môrelig. I was planned to be a NG Church building, but ended up as a commando office block, later as a private school and later still as a hostel for school learners.
For a while I just stood there, empty and without purpose. My owner, from New Horizon College, considered selling me.
Meanwhile, a few years ago, a middle-aged gentleman from a neighbouring province decided to make the Eastern Free State his new home. This former police detective, Justice Scott, met and married the Maths legend of Bethlehem, Dr. Anita Schoeman. They had the shared dream of helping communities in need in a new way – the old way of doing upliftment work was and is not sustainable.
They started this weird and wonderful entity called ChangeNetSA. Their dreams and aspirations were big, but they were sure of success, because their plans all came from the Lord in Heaven.
They devised a remarkable plan to get the community (schools, churches, businesses and more) to work together. They established a Pty (Ltd), not an NPO, with the goal of establishing businesses that could generate income to help all sectors of the community, including all the different NPOs. They did, however, not move forward with anything until they had clearance from their Heavenly Father…
The son-in-law of my owner showed me to Justice, after hearing that he needed a building and terrain for all the projects they were planning. Justice and Anita gave up their rented premises at 28 Grey Street, the New Horizon College people converted it to a pre-primary school, and the Scott couple made an offer to purchase me.
Easier said than done… a bank loan had to be acquired, and many, many loops had to be jumped through to accomplish this. If it is not God’s will, you cannot force it, but if it is His will you cannot stop it!
Anita had been running her Maths Centre for the past 25 years, and Justice added a Tutor Centre, where children are assisted with Impaq learning to flourish and accomplish their dreams. Much of their personal income from these centres is being used to realise the dream of having a place from where they could launch all their projects, while simultaneously serving the community.
I was shown to businesses and individuals, who, despite my derelict appearance, took it upon themselves to renovate me. It was a long stretch of hard work and dedication, but today I am a proud jewel of a landmark in Môrelig. People cannot believe the transformation, and I bring breathing space and calm after the storm for many individuals and families.
I am now a beacon of hope and a resting place for weary souls. New Beginnings is housing families who were in distress, elderly care is given and people who need assistance are housed there, to make it a “full house” at this stage!
A number of spectrum children are trained here, to prepare them to join tutor centres or schools. A team of therapists are involved with all the special need sections. A separate unit, used as a classroom for the children that attend the programme in the mornings, has been donated by the Day Clinic. Our Spectrum Lighthouse is expanding rapidly.
The Grade 4 to Grade 12 section of the Tutor Centre, formerly in Panorama where a house was rented, has now relocated to this beautiful space called New Beginnings (the Grade Rs to Grade 3s are still in Panorama).
I am also the proud home of Maluti FM Radio’s studio, as well as the headquarters of Meals on Wheels Bethlehem.
I have witnessed many, many miracles on the way to my transformation – I stand in awe of the goodness of our God. I thank Him for His love and mercy towards me and the people I serve, He has truly done great things!
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