Young Lakefield resident Yasha Naidoo (13) initiated a water drive at her school, St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls in Boksburg.
READ:
Concerned mother warns other parents
She said she heard Gift of the Givers were looking for water donations to send to Cape Town.
Naidoo approached Danielle Els, the school’s head of charity and head of the ethos committee, to initiate a water drive.
Els said the school asked learners to each donate a five litre filtered and sealed bottle of water.
“When we counted [last] we had about 400 bottles of water, but more learners brought bottles [in February],” she said and estimated they collected about 500 five litre water bottles.
Naidoo said she decided to start the water drive “because Cape Town needs water and [she] is in a large school”.
The Benoni Ladies Forum (BLF) is also involved.
Chairperson Amina Bhabha said they are working in collaboration with Gift of the Givers and transported the water collected by St Dominic’s with their collection to deliver it to Gift of the Givers.
The forum has three drop-off points for bottled water.
“We have one at the Lakefield mosque (Lakefield Masjid-ul-Ansaa), one at the Indianapolis Spur and one at the Benoni Muslim Charity Organisation,” she said.
She said this was the second water collection.
The first collection yielded 3 000 bottles and the BLF, along with St Dominic’s and the Benoni Muslim School, collected about 1 950 bottles of water.
This water drive lasted from February 5 to February 13.
Gift of the Givers East Rand spokesperson Mark Pallai said Gift of the Givers is appreciative of the BLF and the schools for their efforts.
“We ultimately hope the heavens open up,” he said.
Pillai said the organisation has a water storage warehouse in Bramley, in Johannesburg.
He explained the water is being transported by truck to Cape Town, where the military will escort the drivers.
“Water is treated like gold, but the military isn’t there to intimidate anyone,” he said, explaining water will first be given to the elderly and mentally and physically challenged people.
“These people can’t stand in queues in the blazing sun,” he said.
ALSO READ:
Children not safe outside schools, warns mother
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
