The Vincent Francis Legacy Foundation was officially launched on July 12.
The foundation forms part of the legacy of the late Vincent Francis.
Francis was a freedom fighter, activist and journalist during the struggle and was no stranger to the underground movements in the East Rand at the time.
Growing up in Benoni, he attended Actonville Primary School and William Hills Secondary School.
He is most recognised for his work with the OR Tambo and Katlehong informal settlement residents and in bringing positive change to the lives of many.
His career in journalism flourished when he became the bureau chief of Worldwide Television News for the southern hemisphere and interviewed personalities that included the late freedom stalwart Ahmed Kathrada.
Francis, who was slain abroad at the age of 32, was an activist for the Actonville and Wattville communities.
His legacy for caring lives on as his daughter Amelia Francis (co-director) and Sharol Naidoo (co-director and founder) continue the legacy.
Naidoo is passionate about community service and has extended the foundation’s resourcefulness to the Neo e Bonolo Drop-in Centre in Wattville as one of their many projects.
The centre caters for over 250 children, some of whom are HIV positive.
Project manager Elizabeth Maoeng provides care to the children along with other caregivers at the facility.
Naidoo said they had decided to spend the funds collected for the event solely on the children instead of doing a conventional launch.
“We managed to raise enough funds to provide food hampers to the value of R10 000, stationery packs to the value of R5 000 and 50 soccer balls for these children.
“In this way, the children would enjoy the full benefit of the funding and donations.
“The foundation has been in existence for quite some time, we just wanted to make it official today,” she said.
At the launch, the children had an activity day that was planned for them and were provided with a meal at lunchtime.
Maoeng told the City Times the Vincent Francis Legacy Foundation has assisted greatly in helping to provide care and some basic necessities to the children at the centre.
“The public can also assist us in any way possible.
“At the moment it is difficult to provide for all the children with limited funding,” she said.
The children are provided with breakfast every day and the centre provides assistance with school work (primary and high school), homework and sports development.
Life skills workshops with a focus on self-worth and self-esteem are also provided to the children.
The children were grateful for what they received.
Naidoo said they hope to get extra funding and find bursaries for the children in order to keep them in school and help them study further.
Plans for Mandela Day at the foundation include meals for individuals at the Salvation Army.
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