Mall of the North Mall Management in cooperation with Panarottis, Game and Ackermans Mall of the North to bring smiles to some special children’s faces at the Department of Social Development’s combined Child Protection Week and Family Day celebration at the Polokwane Welfare Complex on Tuesday.
The mall management team and their partners in this juncture sponsored balloons, face painting, two jumping castles, four large cakes, sweets and cold drink to the children at the Welfare Complex. They also sponsored T-shirts for the Reakgona choir.
The Polokwane Welfare Complex houses children who are in conflict with the law, children who need a place of safety and children who were removed from their families in three separate centres. According to Mercy Mukhvha, Manager Family Issues at the Department of Social Development, the aim of the day was to bring joy to the lives of children who do not usually have a lot to celebrate.
MEC for Social Development addressed the children and told them that they had value, no matter what anybody might tell them.
She touched on the reason for Child Protection Week and said morality and true values should be restored to the family unit. “We live in a time where many social ills are caused by the decay of the family unit. Many families can no longer provide children with the necessary education about their roots and responsibilities, because more and more parents are forced to work away from home and the scourge of HIV leaves many children orphaned,” she said.
After the official ceremony was done, the children had the opportunity to enjoy a fun and care-free day outside, thoroughly enjoying the cake and other treats from the Mall of the North team.
Featured Photo: Marki Franken – Social Development MEC, Joyce Mashamba cuts one of the cakes sponsored by Mall of the North Mall Management, while Mari Delport, Mall of the North Marketing Manager, and Tahibtha Lekganyane, Mall of the North Public Relations Manager gives her a hand.
MARKI FRANKEN
>>marki.observer@gmail.com