Heather Bellamy spoke with Greg Eland from Siyakholwa Development Foundation about the lives they're changing for good in South Africa.

Heather: And you have won awards for your work, tell us about that.

Greg: Yes we have, it's been quite exciting. In the last two years we have won what's called the Komoso Awards for the best CWP site in the country. That's been two years in a row. 2013 we were the hosts of the third phase of what's called the Expanded Public Works Programme where we had the President and about 3,000 people there. We got to show them all our different projects and what we were doing and we were recognised as a model site in the country.

We've won the Algoa Cares beneficiary programme for Bright Future that we have been running in schools. I think as a whole we have become an organisation in social development that has become well recognised and people look to us as an organisation of excellence.

Heather: What role does faith play in your foundation?

Greg: For me it's the key and it is the foundation. We do what we do because of a deep calling in our lives, to fulfil the mandate of raising up sons and daughters in family, because I think that's God's heart. As I said, in our nation there's an absence of fathers, and so introducing people to God, our heavenly Father is probably the most important thing to us.

Heather: Why do you do what you do personally?

Greg: I come from the Salvation Army, so I guess it is part of my DNA to do these sorts of things. The Salvation Army used to have a saying, 'heart to God and hand to man.' That's the first thing and was how I was brought up.

When we talk about Church, we often talk about the Church gathered and the Church scattered and I think as a Church we've done really well as the Church gathered. We spend millions of rands every Sunday putting things together and that's important and that's good, but I'm more concerned about the Church scattered; what happens during the week where we spend most of our time and we live out our faith? I'm not always sure if I'm doing a good job on that.

I'm passionate about seeing the Church being mobilised, living out their calling in their faith, in whatever sphere God has planted them in to bring God's Kingdom and influence. I love getting up in the morning, I love doing what I'm doing. I'm passionate about it. Sure it has its challenges, but I want to see the Church activated and seeing the impact that the Kingdom can have in our world.

Heather: What is your greatest challenge as a foundation at the moment?

Greg: There are lots of different challenges. I think finding what I would call an effective socio-economic development framework that brings long term change and sustainability. That's something we're really wrestling through. We are trying to transition from a donor based NGO to a more social entrepreneurial model.

On a personal level, if we work for the need, it can really overwhelm you and there's a lots of need in South Africa. So I think it's finding that balance of staying focused on hearing God's voice, because ultimately that's what brings lasting freedom and transformation to people's lives.

Heather: What are your hopes for the coming year?

Greg: Carrying on serving in excellence and pleasing the Lord. We're really focusing on looking at developing a business unit and we'll be creating social entrepreneurial businesses in communities. I want to hear more stories about people who through what we are doing and how we connect with them, how they're finding God and being equipped and released into their callings and their passions.

Heather: How can people find out more?

Greg: You can get hold of me on my email address which is greg@siyakholwa.co.za or you can have a look at our website at www.siyakholwa.co.za.