The staff of Lowveld Media, Mpumalanga News together with those of Mpumalanga Gambling Boards showed their caring side by recently bringing a smile to the children of Good Hope Centre in Mattafin.
Food parcels including meal-mealie, rice, samp, soaps, meat portions, beans, cooking oil, oats, tin stuff, washing powder, bar soaps as well as second hand clothes where donated at the centre on Monday (July 29) as part of the ongoing Mandela Month.
Staff reps from both organizations recently paid a surprise visit to the centre where they were received at the Crèche after which proceeded to the back of the facility where the Drop in centre is situated.
The staff were briefed about the running of both facilities in the centre and were touched by the work done at the centre as it aims to help the needy in the community especially children.
Children under the age of four attend at the Crèche and some of them pay monthly fees of R100 which is however not enough for the running of the crèche as it also provide s with meals. The Crèche’s facility also house home based care-givers who on daily basis visit the sick around the area and help them in different ways.
At the back of the centre there is a minimum facility used as the centre‘s Drop In and it caters for the needs of school going children aged between 5 and 17 from the area.
The Drop in centre was started in 2009 by Ms Molina Malibane (40) and other 11 volunteers who aim to change the lives of needy children.
The Drop in Centre provide meals including breakfast and lunch to more than 60 learners of John Mdluli Primary and Cyril Clarke Secondary.
“We started with 103 children some of whom are orphans; others are from single and unemployed parents. In a nutshell they all come from poor of the poorest families,” explained Malibane.
Malibane explained that the Drop in Centre solely depends on grants from the Department of Social Development which they last received in December last year.
“We last received funds in December and everything was used in March such that we end up cutting the meals and even sending the children away on empty stomach because there was nothing to give them anymore,” she said.
Children at he centre last received meals which was pap and soup on July 18.
“There was nothing we told them that we will call their schools once we had received something,” she added.
Volunteers at the Drop In Centre also helps learners with their homework, wash and iron their school uniforms between Thursday and Friday to ensure that they look clean and presentable every Monday’s at school.
Malibane and Mr Sibusiso Mabuza of the Crèche expressed words of gratitude’s to all the staff of Lowveld Media and Mpumalanga Gambling Board for their kind gesture.
Management from both companies said they were pleased to lend a helping hand to the centre mostly because it caters for the needs of children which is the future of the country.
“This is not from our organizations but it comes from the willing heart of our staff members from both organizations. We had been encouraged by Tata, the former president Nelson Mandela who taught us to do well to one another and change the lives of the poor for the better,” said Mr Cedric Chiloane of the Gambling Board.
Mr Bongani Hlatshwayo the editor of Mpumalanga News represented Lowveld Media. He urged the centre’s management to continue with their good work of helping and caring for the needs of children.
“This is beginning of everything we hope to do this on regular basis,” concluded Hlatshwayo.
He also thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the day.
