For the past 11 years, Nzimeni and Mpho Funeka have been selflessly helping the youth of Mohlakeng.
In 2008, the married couple started the Ebuhleni Home-based Care Project and officially registered it as an NPO in 2010.
“When I eventually had a stable job with a good salary I decided to help one family. I fell in love with helping people and I realised that it was my calling. At first, it was only on weekends but it quickly grew into this big project,” Nzimeni said.
He used to be a mineworker and Mpho used to work in a bank, but in 2009 they both quit their jobs to pursue their passion. He is 39 and is the Project Director, and she is 34 and the Project Coordinator.
This project caters for children and orphans in the Mohlakeng community. As an NPO they depend on donations and help from business and individuals in the community to keep their doors open.
The Funekas and their six caretakers make sure that almost 200 children get regular meals, stay fit and do their homework. Mpho also gives them dance and drama lessons. Their main goal is to keep the youth off the streets as substance abuse is a big problem in the community.
“I do a bit of handyman work to get an income for my household but I know that God will always provide for us and the project because we are doing His work. It makes me happy to be able to help someone. Even if I don’t have a lot of money or possessions, that feeling makes me the happiest man on earth,” he said.
They love the children in the community and also have four boys of their own. After more than a decade the project is bigger than ever and the Funekas are helping more children than they ever thought would be possible.
“The name of our project means ‘the beauty’ and our inspiration is the Xhosa proverb umntwana wakho ngo wam owakho ngo wam, which means ‘your child is my child and my child is your child’,” Nzimeni said.
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