Donation helps locally-based NGO

A LOCAL company has presented Manor Gardens-based NGO iThemba Lethu with a R10 000 cheque, to continue the organisation’s Family Integration Programme.

iThemba Lethu, meaning ‘I have a destiny’, is an NGO which was established in 2000. The organisation runs three programmes which have a significant effect on the community in the greater Durban area.

The small team of 34 staff members facilitate an HIV Prevention Programme for grade five to nine pupils in various primary and high schools in the Cato Manor area. It also has a breast milk bank which provides vital nutrients to orphaned and vulnerable babies in the transition homes.

Since inception, the organisation has successfully run two transition homes with house mothers who care for up to 12 orphaned or abandoned children, with the aim to facilitate their reunification and adoption into families.

“Over the past fourteen years we have facilitated 88 adoptions and 24 reunifications of orphaned and vulnerable children through our Family Integration Programme,” said Karen Brokensha, programmes co-ordinator.

She said the organisation believes that all children belong in a family.

“Our priority is to unite the children with their biological or extended family and, if this is not possible, for them to be adopted by a same race family, followed by a cross cultural adoption,” explains Karen.

Compass Medical Waste Services has supported the Family Integration Programme for the past four years and recently handed over the cheque to iThemba Lethu.

“We are thrilled with this unexpected donation as food, clothing, nappies, medical support and other expenses cost us aproximately R3 500 per month, per child, which needs to be raised through the generosity of corporates and individuals. We deeply value our partnership with Compass and other donors,” she said.

Ian Du Randt, MD of Compass, said it was an honour to support an organisation doing such wonderful and necessary work.

“As a company we are passionate about uplifting the people in our country and involve ourselves in a number of projects which strive to give hope to the hopeless,” he said.

In 2016 iThemba Lethu will be setting up a pre-school facility on their property for their toddlers in order to provide them with tactile stimulation, activities which develop muscle tone and co-ordination as well as the basics of reading, writing and numeracy.

For more information on iThemba Lethu visit: www.ithembalethu.org.za, email: karen@ithembalethu.org.za or phone 031 261 7723.