No light for a bright future
The home buys fresh fruit and vegetables from the market, as well as meat in bulk as a cost saving practice, but when load shedding strikes, the food is placed at risk.
Caring for 64 children is no easy task, especially when faced with the challenges of load shedding.
While it is difficult to overcome these challenges in an ordinary everyday household, the Johannesburg Children’s Home is in need of back-up options to help cope with load shedding.
The home buys fresh fruit and vegetables from the market, as well as meat in bulk as a cost saving practice, but when load shedding strikes, the food is placed at risk.
Since the home’s fridges cannot run without electricity, the food could go off.
“The home cannot afford to replace these items should they spoil,” said the director, Ms Narisha Govender.
“We have not only had the load shedding to contend with, but added extended power cuts as well. Sometimes the electricity can be off for a 24 hour period in some cases,” she said.
Owing to recent announcements from Eskom, stating that load shedding could affect South Africa for some time to come, the home is looking for a long-term back-up plan for emergencies.
Ms Govender said the home has looked into purchasing various power providing items, which will cost an estimated R85 000.
The home has not budgeted for these unforeseen expenses and therefore is appealing to the public for donations or sponsorship towards these items.
The Johannesburg Children’s Home provides care and shelter for 64 children between the ages of three and 18.
“These children are placed in our care by regional courts. They have experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or have been severely neglected or abandoned by their parents,” said Ms Govender.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Fiona or Narisha on 011 023-6871 or email pr@jch.org.za
