THREE-year-old Hadjija held up the mic from its stand and began to softly hum a song, while looking around at the load of toys that had just been dropped off in the passage of her home. The toys were collected by Glenashley resident and mum of two, Melissa Gibson. On Wednesday, Gibson travelled to Mahatma Gandhi Road, where she handed over the collection of toys, along with ladies from the One Future Foundation.
Over the last few weeks, Gibson had embarked on a toy collection drive in order to bring a smile to the faces of the children, who with their parents and older siblings, live in an abandoned building in Mahatma Gandhi Road.
Gibson said when she joined her best friend, Vashti Downs on a visit to the area, she was overcome with emotion. She then started a toy drive and once collected, she went to deliver them to the children.
“She is usually very feisty,” Downs said. “Once she warms up to you, she is a little chatterbox,” she added.
Hadjija was afraid of the big doll, which was almost her size, but took to the mic stand and hummed a tune. The toddler lives with her parents and older siblings in the derelict building.
“Most times, people think that only addicts or prostitutes live out here, but this family is an upstanding family and Hadjija’s parents are very involved with the local church. It’s just that they cannot afford to live elsewhere, that they live here,” Downs said.
Gibson expressed her gratitude at being a part of the visit and contributing towards putting a smile on the face of the little children.
“After the first visit, I was very emotional. With collecting the toys, I know this will put a smile on their faces,” she said. The doll that scared the tiny Hadjija was passed onto six-month-old Keisha, who simply adored her new friend.
