Volmoed RetreatCentre for Healing & Reconciliation

GlobalGiving Volmoed Report December 2024

Warm greetings from Volmoed and a big THANK YOU! as always   We happily moved into the summer season about a month ago and now embrace the warmer, sunny days and the lovely longer days and evenings.  

Our biggest gratitude for the year is a fantastic team of workers from a town an hour’s drive away, provided by the local Hemel and Aarde Conservancy and the government Department of Agriculture. They have been hard at work since September to clear the alien vegetation that grows out of control on the mountain slopes and even in the Onrus River that flows through the property. It takes over the landscape and prevents other indigenous vegetation from growing and flourishing.  They sent one team for two months and have now added a second team. They have transformed the landscape, which was in danger of being overrun by alien trees like wattles and bluegums. They are doing this initial clearing now and will send a team back once a year to maintain the clearing. We are so grateful to them! 

We are also consulting engineers about how best to go about restoring the river flow so that the causeway across it is not constantly under water. Without this road there is no access to the land across the river except by boat. The threat of fire is real, and we need the road back in action. There are differing opinions! and we hope to move forward in the new year. 

Volmoed continues to be a beautiful place tended with love and care by loyal, committed staff.  The beauty of the large property can be challenging to maintain, especially as our now older infrastructure like water pipes or pumps, tractors and equipment, need to be fixed or replaced. People comment on how beautiful the landscape is and what a peaceful place it is. There are some lovely quiet spaces with benches to sit and reflect or just gaze at the beautiful views. 

We continue to have groups come on retreat to this place that provides peace and quiet and a good space to reflect. Silent retreats these last few months included clergy from different townships in the Western Cape. Another group from a non-profit called Not I But We, www.notibutwe.com who work with women survivors of trafficking and gender based violence, came for a semi-silent retreat with staff, volunteers and supporters.  Both groups needed deep rest and refreshment, and their retreats were very meaningful for them. 

The biggest events of the year took place in November, with the visit of former archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. This was a highlight! 

First, there was  the annual colloquium with Volmoed and the University of Stellenbosch.  There was a good mix of diverse, intergenerational academics and students, including Canada and the USA. The colloquium was followed by a retreat on ‘The Prophetic and the Spirit in these days.’  Dr William’s mix of  philosophy and theology, along with pertinent, inspiring, profound stories, was wonderful. There were Table Talk discussions after supper where people could ask questions about anything, and they did.  The week ended with a public lecture in the Hermanus municipal auditorium on Faith and the Arts in Public Life, which was terrific. Our youth drummers welcomed everyone to the lecture in great style.

In these weeks before Christmas, before we get really full and busy, our staff held their annual Christmas lunch, and we all said goodbye to David, our wonderful, young volunteer who lived at Volmoed and helped the maintenance staff for the past six months.  

Our annual Christmas carol picnic was a great success, even though we had to again hold it at the local church gardens rather than at Volmoed. We are still challenged by the high water table following the floods last year, and the lack of roads good enough for a large group of people. The stellar band from Manenberg provided music again, joined by the gorgeous Hermanus Angels, local young girls, who all sang favorite Christmas songs and then a set of Christmas carols. This is a favorite fundraising event that brings a lot of joy! 

What a year it has been! We would not make it without your generous donations and support. Thank you so much, we are so grateful! May the holidays bring you time together with loved ones as you celebrate your particular traditions.  May there be great joy and love and may the hope of peace continue for our troubled world.

Links:

• Volmoed Retreat Centre

• Volmoed Report December 2024 full report (PDF)
  

Volmoed Retreat Center Report
August 2024

THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR ALL YOUR DONATIONS!

Over the past few months we have moved into a cold and rainy winter, and all the dams are full. Fortunately, not as much flooding as last year, as we are still working to clear up that damage. Thankfully the sun comes out now and then to cheer us up after gale force winds and what feels like endless rain! 

We have hosted many different groups in the past few months. These include peace building groups like Artisans for Peace, who gather peace builders from different countries around the world for a time of support, nurture and strength for the important work they do; and the Indiana and Mid-western group of people working for peace in the Middle East.  Other groups focus on learning and experiencing the history of South Africa and reconciliation, on learning and experiencing the different cultures in South Africa, and loving the peace and beauty of Volmoed that helps them reflect on their experiences. 

The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation staff came for a staff team-building retreat. The Tutu travel seminar group from the USA returned in August. They focus on learning about the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and on issues of justice, reconciliation and healing in South Africa. They spend time in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and then time at Volmoed to experience the local context of a small town, enjoy the beauty of nature, and reflect on their experience. 

On Mandela Day in July, people were inspired by speaker Zelda la Grange, who was the private secretary to President Nelson Mandela for many years. This was followed by a drum circle that drummed for 67 minutes, to mark the 67 years of service it was estimated that he gave to the world. 

Events with young people included a Taizé Youth day with workshops, time for reflection, and a walk to see the waterfalls; a visit from Marquette University students, and a week with the Volmoed youth leadership program group focused on reconciliation, with facilitator and drummer Themba Lonzi.

A number of smaller groups came to Volmoed to focus on their particular training and needs, ranging from counselors at a clinic,  to a group of Benedictine monks from New York who came to meet with their companion brothers in this part of the world, to people doing first aid training, and a group who themselves lead retreats and wanted a time apart in quiet and beauty to rest, reflect and restore themselves for the work they do. 

It is always a privilege to welcome and host so many interesting people and groups from local areas to all over the world. Volmoed Retreat Centre is unique and beautifully able to provide so much of what these very different groups are looking for. 

Over the past few months, the Volmoed trustees have also engaged in facilitated workshops that focus on discernment of the future direction of Volmoed. This included creative work with beads, tooth picks and clay, to symbolize what Volmoed is and can be. Some beautiful work included a garden, tree, bridge, a river, hands, and other creative pictures that sparked some important conversations. 

It made us realise the intensity of the last five years, including the Covid-19 years, loss of enormous trees that were old and diseased, the floods that were the worst in the last 100 plus years, had all left their mark.  What a journey it has been for Volmoed and for so many connected to Volmoed. The current challenge is to increase the income through hosting more international groups, so that we can increase staff salaries to be closer to a living wage. Given all the increased costs of fuel, electricity and food over the last years, this has become essential. We may need to look for a second income stream in order to do this. The workshops led to excitement and some very good ideas to focus on for the future, so watch this space.  The follow up to the workshops will be undertaken by the leadership team and the Volmoed Council. 

Our favorite staff and residents moment is our weekly gathering on a Wednesday morning, when we have a contemplative, quiet time to reflect, sing, and sometimes share stories. It is a time to catch up with news and to support and encourage those who are experiencing difficult circumstances. 

Following a major gift from a benefactor and donations from many like you, the majority of the rental houses and several other buildings are now solar powered. This has helped to decrease our enormous electricity bill, which in turn will help to free up money for staff and other much needed projects. Gratitude to all who donated to this. 

We are also happy that we have been able to provide internet and wifi at each of the resident staff houses on our property. Thanks to your donations, and David, a young volunteer here for six months, this has hugely improved the quality of our staff’s lives.

As always, thank you all so much for your support. We could not do this important work without the support of so many. We appreciate you! 

YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS MUCH APPRECIATED!

THANK YOU!

Links:

• Volmoed Retreat Centre

• Global_Giving_Volmoed_Report_Aug_2024.pdf (PDF)