VOLUNTEERS STORY WALL

Jordan Lynn

Bell

B.A., M.A. Counselling, CPC
Graduate Cert. CH. Spirituality

Cochrane, AB
Canada

Role:                      Trauma-informed Counsellor – Trainer

Posting Period:  April 13-26, 2023 (2 weeks)

Prof. Skills:        Counselling (Trauma, PTSD,  anxiety disorders),
                             Psychology, Teaching and Coaching

Delivery Partner

HILLSONG AFRICA
FOUNDATION

JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town and Table Mountain
iHub Africa Leadership Team
Jordan delivering training to Leadership
Jordan delivering training to Leadership
Jordan & team Training Coaches via Zoom
Children living in Langa Township
Children living in Langa Township
Artist working at Langa Community Center
Challenging Living Conditions in Langa Township
Apartheid-era ID Book of Township Guide
TCT Team, Andy & Sonya overlooking Muizenberg
Cape Point National Park
Cape Point National Park
Cape Point National Park
Cape Point National Park
Hout Bay along Chapman's Peak Drive
Andy & Sonya overlooking Hout Bay
iHub Alumni working with Comarketers in Cape Town
Soweto Township - Nelson & Winnie Mandela House
Soweto Township - Hector Pietersen Monument
Dinner out with iHub Leadership Team
Robin, Liz, Jordan, and Sbu in Johannesburg
Table Mountain early morning, Cape Town
Botlierskop Safari Lodge Game Drive
Game Drive - "Big Five" - Lions
Game Drive - "Big Five" - White Rhinos
Game Drive - "Big Five" - Cape Buffalo
Game Drive - Cheetahs
Game Drive - Giraffe
Game Drive - Burchell Zebra
iHub Students Receiving Trauma-informed Training
iHub Students 2023 cohort Representatives
Statues of Tutu, de Klerk, Luthuli & Mandela at V&A waterfront
Tokara in Cape Winelands
Signboard at Simon's Restaurant in Constantia
Cape Town City Bowl from Table Mountain base
Farewell to Cape Town, the "Mother City" until next time...

Want to serve as an HFI Volunteer like Jordan did?

Jordan’s Story of Volunteer Service

​What a privilege it has been to volunteer with Hands and Feet International once again and provide trauma informed training to support the iHub Africa organization. Our team consisted of three trauma trained professional certified counsellors, me, Robin McColl and Debbie Will.

Our volunteer time started during Covid and over a two-year period we corresponded by email and met in regularly scheduled zoom meetings with iHub leaders and facilitators. Last summer, the idea to come in person and offer more in-depth trauma training began to germinate. Our heart intention was to provide a trauma informed framework for the iHub leaders to facilitate better learning outcomes and to understand and implement additional resources for students seeking a better life despite all the obstacles they needed to overcome. During the following 10 months our team worked towards developing a tailored training curriculum and providing trauma related resources that would not only address the universal responses and effects of trauma but also appropriately respond to South African cultural and historical considerations.

As with all missions, it is never just a one-way interaction but a two-way transformation. It was so good to meet in person and see the amazing leadership team of iHub and get to know their hearts and be a part of the amazing work that they are doing preparing young people for a future full of hope and possibilities and to offer our deposit into that beautiful and complex puzzle.  Our time in South Africa also, not coincidentally, provided an opportunity to meet with ministry leaders in Hillsong Africa and to share a portion of our trauma training and resources with them as well which was a wonderful experience meeting with extraordinary hearts.

I would encourage other individuals who have professional expertise and are looking for ways to serve to consider becoming involved in this incredibly purposeful organization which not only seeks to train students for the hope of a better life but provides an environment that facilitates healing and growth.

Our time in South Africa would not be complete without commenting on our most generous and gracious hosts Andy and Sonya Boettcher. Getting to know both Andy and Sonya and the heartfelt work that they are involved in from iHub, Living Color, Hillsong Africa initiatives and Hands and Feet International as well as many more and to see them in action and in heart was truly inspiring. We were so well taken care of; we were guided in learning more about the culture, the people and had the opportunity to experience parts of this beautiful land and were well utilized in our short time in South Africa. They were a blessing to our team, and it was my observation that their lives are genuinely lived as a response to love, love for others and most especially in their relationship with God. I am so grateful for our time with them and for their care. May God continue to bless them in all that they do and in rest when they need it.