Ivory Park Youth Talent makes a difference in the community
MIDRAND – Ivory Park community comes together on Mandela Day to build a shelter for a child-headed household.
A resident of Ivory Park, Patrick Maswanganyi had identified a child-headed family living in Mamtolo Informal Settlement in Ivory Park’s Ward 78 about three months ago. He then began a search for funds in order to change the living conditions of the three children.
Maswanganyi said the project of building a new shelter for the children started when he met Canon Priest Abraham Sibiya and his wife Pastor Maggy Sibiya who assisted him in making this project a reality.
The project is the brainchild of the Ivory Park Youth Talent a non-profit organisation that mainly deals with assisting orphans who are struggling, especially child-headed families.
“When I told the Sibiyas about the work of the organisation, they assisted our cause by allowing me to make an appearance and interview on their reality show on Moja Love called Living Fully with Rev Abe Sibiya,” said Maswanganyi.
“The TV appearance assisted the organisation to be able to receive a R6 000 donation towards the project,” he added.
“When Patrick pitched the project to us, we decided to play a part in ensuring that the affected children received help. We visited the children and what I saw was not pleasing. It had recently rained and their shack was flooded with water, therefore, we decided to immediately donate clothes and food to ensure that their immediate needs were met,” said Maggy Sibiya.
On 18 July, as part of Mandela Day, the organisation built a two-room shelter for the children.
