Life Skills School History |
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The Teen Challenge Life Skills School first began in Mbabane under the leadership of Assembly of God missionary Pastor Mike Santiago. Pastor Mike started the centre at our request to begin a school which would provide a gap year program for Teen Challenge students. We rented a large house in Fonteyn, Mbabane and called it Teen Challenge Ministry Institute, working with Pastor David Kaledi. Pastor Mike Santiago had been in the mission field for almost 40 years. He brought a wealth of experience and an energy level yet to be found in any of the men even a quarter of his age. He worked through nights and days ceaselessly. Pastor Mike's mission term in Swaziland ended and he returned home for 18 months, to be sent on to Zambia for the AOG. We closed the school, while we waited for the opportunity to find another leader to reopen the school. In 2003, we identified the leader as being Misheck Madakadze, but found that his pastor was not able to release him into full time ministry within TCMI. The pastor referred us to a student of his, Peter Biloane. Peter had moved from Swaziland to Botswana and had wanted to return to Swaziland. We took Peter on and he moved onto the new property in Ezulwini, previously known as the Ark. While at the Ark, the material that was being used also changed from ICI Global to the newly found (to us) Zion curriculum. We wanted a curriculum which focused on character building. In 2005 Misheck took over leadership and George Santos took on the role of student counselor. Karabo, a graduate of the Men's Teen Challenge centre, took on the role of student staff in charge of the dormitory. When Karabo moved to Emafini to work at the Men's Centre, Bonginkhosi took over the role of student staff. The centre outgrew the facilities and was moved again in May of 2007, this time to Bulembu. A major benefit of the move, is the size of the new facility which can now handle up to 48 students. Another benefit will be the job opportunities available for graduates in Bulembu because of its resurging economy. The hope is to begin teaching more life skills such as welding, mechanics and driving. |
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PO Box 1141, Mbabane, Kingdom of Swaziland Phone: (268) 404-7685 or (268) 404-5452 |
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