Bienvenu Shelter receives donations

Eastgate Charity Organisation donated food parcels to Bienvenu Shelter for refugee women and their children on March 28.

The founder of the organisation, who is also an educator at Eastgate Primary School, Celino Rajkumar, said they chose Bienvenu Shelter as it is less privileged than other shelters in the community.

“The shelter’s aim is similar to the purpose of our organisation, which is mainly to instill the culture of being community-orientated with learners,” said Rajkumar.

Rajkumar said the charity organisation had a collection drive at the school in which learners brought items that are essential to people’s needs.

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“After the drive, youngsters from the school saw the need to reach out to organisations that care for children of the similar age. We donated a number of boxes of clothes, food and toys,” he said.

Rajkumar believes that charity and community work need to be introduced to children at a younger age.

“I truly do believe that despite the challenges we face as a school, we may be more privileged than other people.

“I feel there’s always a need to be community-orientated. There are people who are less fortunate and are faced with many challenges. I wish we had more to give back to the community. I also wish more privileged individuals could see this as a plea to get involved in such initiatives,” he said.

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Rajkumar founded the organisation at the beginning of the year to make a difference in the community.

“We will certainly continue to reach out to the community and try by all means to make a positive difference,” he said.

The Bienvenu Shelter is based in Bertrams and was established in 1895 as a response to the large immigration influx.