Hi all! Melissa here. 

Grab a beverage and prepare to be inspired by the best story you’ll read all week!

We always tell you about the mentoring of the young children in South Africa, but there is so much more that goes on at Archangels Project and we’re excited to begin telling those stories here in our newsletters.

Allow me to tell you the inspiring story of Siphe (pronounced “SEE-PAY”)  and his incredible journey of unwavering determination against all odds.

Siphe’s Story

In a small township in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Siphe’s life began under the most challenging circumstances. Born to a mother married to a man who was not his father, Siphe’s mother gave him to his grandmother immediately after birth. 

His grandmother’s home was a wooden shanty without electricity or running water, and was shared with nine cousins in a family where food was often scarce.

 About one-third of South Africa’s population, around 17 million people, live in rural villages under the jurisdiction of tribal chiefs. These villages lack proper roads, electricity, water and proper sanitation facilities. River water is still used by many who don’t have water tanks to collect their water.

Education

 Growing up in a village lacking even the most basic infrastructure and facilities, Siphe faced monumental obstacles. The village primary school offered a poor education, and when he reached high school, Siphe had to walk 3 miles each way to attend his classes. But he was determined to get an education. Despite his efforts, he was unable to pass 9th grade.  

At 16, he connected with his biological father, who was relocating to the Western Cape. Determined to get a better education, Siphe pleaded with the father he hardly knew to let him join, seeing this as his chance to change his future.

 Siphe moved in with his father into another wooden shack with no amenities, but he embraced the opportunity to attend a better school. As the school year progressed however, things at home deteriorated. His father was drinking heavily and there was a lot of yelling and chaos in the home. Eventually, Siphe’s father made him quit school to look for a job. 

Siphe’s story so far reflects a reality faced by countless children in underserved communities in South Africa. Without intervention, these young lives typically take a tragic turn, with most falling into cycles of poverty, early pregnancy, unwanted babies, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation, all out of an utter desperation to survive.

Hope

Through a series of events, Siphe was connected with some of Archangels Projects vital partners- Ella and Penny, who run the Lukhanyiso Safe House. They helped Siphe return to school and now at 20 years old, he was even able to move into a small wooden house nearby. 

Tragically and unbelievably for this young man- Siphe’s home was deliberately set ablaze in a violent act tied to a land dispute, burning up all his belongings and leaving him with nothing.

Even still, Siphe wasn’t ready to give up!   He was determined to achieve his goal to get an education and find a better way for himself.  And he did.  He successfully graduated from high school at age 22.

The Chance For a Future

After school, Siphe’s dream was to became to be a chef!  He envisioned himself working as a chef on a cruise line or in a hotel.   Working toward this dream, and with financial support, he attended College in South Africa where he earned a diploma/degree in Hospitality and Catering. 

It was at this point that Savannah and Enslin met Siphe and heard his entire story. They immediately knew that Archangels Project would do everything we could to try and provide this incredibly determined young man the opportunity to reach his goals and continue to change the trajectory of his life.

They began to help him with some basic necessities, like applying for his passport, working on getting his drivers license and writing up a solid CV to showcase his accomplishments. As they checked off these tasks, Savannah and Enslin began to reach out to their network of managers and staff in lodging and hospitality to see if they might be able to get him a chance at an internship.

A Very Close Call

During this time Siphe applied to an ad on Facebook to work at a hotel in Dubai. He was contacted by the hotel, and told to send copies of his ID,  his passport etc, and they would handle everything else, including his flights. 

Siphe excitedly shared the news of the job offer with Savannah and Enslin, but Archangels Project is well-versed in such scenarios and was immediately cautious.

Savannah’s thorough research uncovered a cruel scam targeting vulnerable youth in impoverished nations with promises of dream jobs at hotels or resorts in Dubai. The scheme lured eager young people into surrendering their documents, enabling traffickers to gain complete control upon their arrival abroad. Thanks to this vigilance, Siphe was spared from a dangerous trap.

This is another example of how easily people can be trafficked. Especially in a country with the highest unemployment rate for young people in the world.

Never Give Up!

After months of seeking opportunities, Savannah and Enslin secured a chance to shine at Kuzuko Lodge, where Siphe was invited to demonstrate his culinary skills to the head chef.

Tragically, just days before the trip, he was viciously attacked by a group of men wielding machetes. They stole his belongings and severely injured his hand, leaving two fingers immobile due to nerve damage. Incredibly, Siphe was unmoved. 

With Archangels Project’s support, they embarked on the six-hour journey to the lodge, Siphe bandaged but undaunted.

He showcased his skills, his excellent work ethic and warm personality that weekend, earning him an internship and, within a month, full employment and is now excelling as a chef in training at this five star lodge.

Siphe’s confidence has flourished as he continues to grow into the person he always aspired to be. Driven by a deep desire to inspire other struggling children and young adults, he would like to be an example to guide them along a path like his own. Deeply grateful for the support he’s received, Siphe stays in close contact, frequently expressing his heartfelt appreciation.

Update…

We are still in Croatia as we await the finalizing of the contracts in Africa that Troy has been working on tirelessly for well over a year. We are anxious to quickly get home to see our family in the US and then get to South Africa to be with Savannah, Enslin & little Memphis!

We’d be so thankful for your prayers for provision and an expedited contract .

We currently run Archangels Project by providing our own funding and taking no salaries. If you feel led to support us financially, here are some current tangible needs:

$1500/ minimum every month for S&E to continue their current work in South Africa.

$350 for our monthly conservation & hospitality mentorship at the game lodge with our young teens.

$1200 for Melissa to attend a 5 day grant writing workshop

$200 for AI tools and platforms related to grant writing.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported Archangels Project in the past. Despite significant challenges, we believe our sacrifices will enable Archangels Project to realize its full potential, delivering sustainable, impactful support to hurting people, worldwide and for years to come.

Hit reply to this email if you’d like to reach out and thank you for being on our team! 

With gratitude,

~ Troy, Melissa & the Archangels Project Team

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