Netball star blown away by north Durban community’s efforts
Jessica Khomo who teaches at Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, has been working with children from Umgababa, the Briardene Informal Settlement and learners Kingsburgh Primary School on the south coast.
DURBAN North athlete and teacher, Jessica Khomo, said she has been blown away by the support from her school and the community at large for her sports and shoe drive to help children in underprivileged areas.
The SPAR Proteas netball player, who teaches at Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, has been working with children from Umgababa, the Briardene Informal Settlement and learners of Kingsburgh Primary School on the south coast.
The 26-year-old recently started the non-profit organisation, Mpiloyonke Foundation, an NPO that mentors and educates the youth on the importance of their passion, talents and skills in empowering themselves, families and their communities.
Two learners from the school, Eve Chettleburgh and Tiffany Christensen have donated hundreds of items of sporting equipment but the duo also raised more than R1 000 from a market day sale which they donated towards the cause.
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“We wanted to help out miss Khomo and my mom also got involved. She sent out an appeal on WhatsApp to residents of Mount Edgecombe and they all donated sporting goods which was awesome. We also received help from the Angel Network who have been great,” Chettleburgh said.
Fellow Grade 6 learner, Christensen, said they were thrilled to give back.
“We want to support what miss Khomo is doing because it’s going to make a huge difference to the underprivileged. We are still collecting items and we urge residents to support the drive as well,” she said.
For Khomo, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
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“I’m really blown away by the gestures from the learners and especially Eve and Tiffany, it’s incredibly heartwarming. For me the best part is that they get to come with me in Janurary to drop the items off at Kingsburgh Primary School so they can see the difference they are going to make,” she said.
Khomo explained she was also trying to collect sports equipment for children at the Briardene Informal Settlement.
“After the article was published in the Northglen News a German company got involved and said they would sponsor a few football boots for the Briardene football team and they are also doing their own collection which is great,” she said.
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