The remarkable story of a Port Elizabeth woman whose deviation from her regular morning walk route led to the discovery of a newborn baby in a drain is just one of the features of a brand-new TV series that will highlight the work being done with vulnerable children in the Eastern Cape.
Christian Lifestyle magazine will launch its series – Slice of
Light – anchored by wellknown actor Fikile “Fiks” Mahola and presenter Megan Fisher – on SABC2 this Sunday.
The 13 episodes of inspiring stories were shot almost entirely in the Eastern Cape by Port Elizabeth production company Sunshine Coast Studios
Producer Nicola Barbour said she was grateful to the SABC for agreeing to broadcast the series.
“I think Sunday, being the end of that blissful weekend, can seem like a bit of a downer.
“All the worries of Monday start to cloud our minds again – bills, kids, ageing parents – so we are presenting a Sunday brunch show where people can tune in and feel refreshed and inspired.”
Barbour said she hoped the series inspired people into action to do something right where they were.
“I wish to show the town and South Africa that Eastern Cape people don’t need to step aside for the big cities – we are making outstanding media content right here which will be broadcast on a national stage,” she said.Series highlights include the Timion organisation in Jeffreys Bay – a non-profit organisation that helps children with cerebral palsy – and the story of Charmaine Keevy, who felt a strong prompting to take her dog for a walk far away from her normal route, and found a newborn baby in a drain.
Fisher said it was a blessing to profile such a variety of excellent stories and people.
“For me, this series has been life-changing. I have always lived in the Eastern Cape and I had no idea about much of the outstanding work going on around me,” Fisher said.
She said she was touched by the Penuel Children’s Foundation, a temporary place of safety for abused and abandoned children.
Mahola echoed her comments and said more bad news was broadcast than good.
“I think we see so much bad news on our screens, and so often people question the existence of God, but from the stories we have profiled, we can see that the Body of Christ is moving, and doing the most incredible things across this nation,” Mahola said.
Richard Cathcart, of the Penuel Children’s Foundation, said it was excited to participate in a series that shone a light on the good that the church and city of Port Elizabeth contribute towards abandoned and orphaned children.
“Viewers can expect to be challenged, encouraged and inspired that one life truly can make a difference to another’s life when we work together as a team to serve the less fortunate all around us,” he said.
Daniel Meyer, of Timion, said: “We feel privileged to be part of this series – it is a way to make our work known but also to witness that children with cerebral palsy are precious and wonderfully made.”
He said he hoped the series would motivate Christians to become more “hands on” in living out their faith.
Slice of Light will run from July 1 to August 19 at 10.30am.