Giving back despite disability
She is asking the community to support her idea so that she can help keep the kids out of trouble.
THEMBI Malatgi, a resident of Eden Park Extension Five, who was born disabled, wants to devote her life to helping her community’s children by offering after-school care for free.
She has a passion for kids and even though her disability makes her life difficult sometimes, she is determined to help educate and entertain them during her aftercare sessions.
Thembi (34) was born without the ability to walk and has to rely on a wheelchair to get around. Yet, she is grateful for what she has and thanks God every day.
She grew up in Natalspruit and now lives in Eden Park close to Elizabeth and Barend Snyders, who started a soup kitchen to feed hungry community members.
Read: “Pensioners feed the less fortunate in Eden Park”.
It’s at this soup kitchen (5565 Achmat Dangor Street, Eden Park Extension Five) that Thembi wants to offer after-school care. She has three children of her own – two boys and a girl – and this has intensified her need to express her passion, which is caring for children.
“I would like to offer the after-school care for free, to give back to the community,” said Thembi. “Children are the future and we must raise them with lots of love and care.”
She says that, in Eden Park, there are not a lot of educational or entertaining activities and facilities for children to enjoy. She reckons this is what is leading the youth to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and to take part in criminal activities.
She is asking the community to support her idea so that she can help keep the kids out of trouble. Any donations that could work for an after-school care facility, such as food, toys, educational posters and objects, stationery and so on would be very much appreciated.
It would mean the world to Thembi if anyone could help her out with a new wheelchair to make her life a little easier and to give her a better chance to interact with active children.
If you would like to donate anything, please contact Elizabeth on 079 539 6206 and mention that you would like to donate towards Thembi Malatgi’s after-school care.
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