Orphanage hosts fun run to celebrate Women’s Day

To celebrate National Women’s Day, Mphe Seriti Orphanage and Vulnerable Children’s Drop-in Centre hosted a Wathintha Abafazi Whathintha Imbokodo event.

It included a fun run, walk and prayer while a table was available for people to drop off donations for the children.

Tebogo Mashilane, the organiser for the event, explained it was aimed at empowering women especially those in the semi-rural area of Pelzvale. They wanted women to feel special and healthy.

They would like to rebuild the community and the fun run/ walk was the first step. They also have classes they offer to women including classes for beadwork, machinery and floral arrangements. As an artist herself, Tebogo also offers classes to the women in the community for skills development.

Gladys Ounooi, owner and founder of the orphanage explained she walks every day for her health and hopes the event will help others feel empowered.

She noted the orphanage opened its doors in 2008 and currently they have 18 children in the centre and 85 in the community they care for as the children’s parents do not have the funds.

Tebogo added the centre itself needs more development, they also need food for the children, including those in the community they help and some of the children do not have documents. Gladys explained some of the children were simply abandoned at the centre without any documentation.

Also in attendance was the chairperson of the selection committee for security and justice, Jane Mananiso.

Any person who wants to donate to the orphanage can contact Tebogo on 067 213 8970.