Caring for abandoned children is something that Ntabiseng Princess Kwakwari takes pride in.
After seeing countless acts of neglect for the children in her community, she took the initiative to start her own day-care and orphanage programme in the heart of Zandspruit.
Alcohol and drug abuse are major problems within the community. This leaves many children without the proper care and education that they need.
With the help of the community and a few sponsors, Kwakwari was able to build Zamokuhle After Care from the ground up in 2015.
But there is still more work to be done, especially in terms of food, materials and security.
Kwakwari commented, “Office National has helped us with food for the kids like samp and mielies, but we would appreciate more support. We are also working on building a wall around the crèche for better security to keep the kids safe.”
Kwakwari often gets generous clothing donations for the children, and any adult clothes which she gets helps to fund the children’s crèche by being sold at a makeshift charity store.
She said, “The children’s clothes go directly to them but when adult clothes and shoes are donated, I sell them to the community, making money to buy more food and paraffin gas so that the children can eat.”
When asked about the need for household utensils, Kwakwari said, “We need more cooking utensils like pots and pans, these ones are old and too small to make food for all the kids… We are also in desperate need for chairs.”
The 50 children that live at Zamokuhle are also in desperate need of sleeping space.
“The children that stay here, need more comfortable beds to sleep in at night… Some have to sleep on the floor.
“We also don’t have electricity, so we would love for somebody to donate some for us.”
“We are a fully registered NGO and day-care facility, and I hope with better funding, we can inspire others to do the same.”
To lend your hand of support to Zamokuhle After Care, you can deliver food, toys, consumables and clothes to the Caxton Weltevreden Park office, 1187 Cornelius Street, Weltevreden Park.
