THE COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE
Aya Blayi
College for Counseling Youth
A Note from the Oikos INTL Founders:
Aya is one of the first people that I (Alan), connected with in South Africa. Both he and Lutho have been part of our family ever since we arrived and they are great role models to our girls. I had the privilege of Baptizing Aya and Lutho in early 2021. Their upward journey is not one that anyone would have guessed would happen. But God knew. Aya is a natural listener. He quietly sees others pain as he’s been there himself. He sees it in the faces of the youth in his community, and he has a calling to be the hands and feet of Christ here. Aya needs our partnership to fulfill that dream that God has put in his heart and mind and that first step is completing certifications and a degree in counseling. Aya doesn't have resources or options to achieve this except through people like you. Will you help support his mission of being healing change for his community? Last year, he wrote and created a short biographical video. Make sure to watch it!
Meet AYAVUYA BLAYI
(AYA, PRONOUNCED EYE-YUH)
My name is Ayavuya Blayi. I am Xhosa and I was born in a village in the Eastern Cape. My mom, brother and I followed my father to the modern city of Cape Town once he found a job because there were none in our part of South Africa. With a high unemployment rate, my father was very fortunate to get a job. We were proud of him.
Most of my growing up memories are those of Masiphumelele; a township built for 10,000 people but is well over that by the tens of thousands and therefore overcrowded. My world turned upside down when I lost both of my parents to illness when I was young. I quickly learned how to take care of myself and my brother in the best way possible. My parents left us a small tin shack, so we had a roof over our heads to do what we could to survive a dark world.
We survived because we had connections. While we often felt lonely, we were never truly alone. We had relatives nearby that assisted when they could. Today I look at the children in my community who look lost like I was. Many of them don’t have the connections of family that I had. There are so many children raising themselves either due to death or drug-fueled hopelessness in my community. I want to be a part of the solution.
THE MINISTRY: COUNSELING CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH RELATIONSHIP AND MEDIA
When I joined Oikos International I soon felt God had a calling for my life. My mentors gave me the confidence to pursue that purpose. I want to be a counselor to these children and youth that are struggling like I did. To be that connection that I had somewhat but needed more of. I want to encourage them to keep going and fight the good fight and for them to know they are worthy of hope.
Even before they moved to South Africa, the founders of Oikos prepared me and put me through an intense Discipleship Training School and a Film and Media School which gave me a way to serve with them on staff once they knew it was time for them to come here full time. I edit content for Oikos and for the NGO’s and businesses that are forming. In 2023 I tested the waters and did a 1-year program in Counseling Children and Adolescence. Because of that successful experience I knew that this was the right path and I had found God’s purpose for my life. I had to pursue that passion that God has given me for the children of Masiphumelele.
I’ve enrolled in a 2-year degree in Counseling and Communication Skills so I can minister to help children suffering with loss and grief. I want to use my gifts of video and editing to be a storyteller through videos that brings healing to many.
SEMESTER COSTS
My semester costs are roughly $1,000 USD, about $4,000 per year for 2 years.