Destitute children assisted by Bana-Pele Drop-in Centre in the Mankweng area could leave their dire circumstances behind for a while last week when Limpopo Beauty Modelling Academy arrived to spread some Christmas cheer among them.
Agency owner and director Katryn Celliers accompanied by a number of models arrived with armfuls of Christmas gifts, sweets packets, food, stationery and schools shoes for the children who were overjoyed by the generosity and warmth of their visitors.
The gifts included baby dolls, Barbie dolls, make-up play sets, beaded jewellery sets and transformer robots.
The centre caters for more than 250 children from Mankweng and surrounds and relies on a quarterly grant from the Department of Social Development for sustainability.
The academy has been supporting the centre for the past two years and Celliers said they were glad to make a difference in the lives of the children.
She stressed that they wanted to inculcate a culture of giving amongst the modelling students at the academy. “I always tell them that the more you give the more your will receive. They enjoyed giving out presents and they were also happy to celebrate Christmas with the less fortunate,” Celliers said.
Founder of the centre, Shirley Ramorwaswi thanked the academy for the gesture. “It was good to see children smiling from ear to ear when they received those Christmas presents. These presents will enable them to enjoy and find the essence of Christmas. They also gave us non-perishable food which we will use to prepare a Chrismas feast.
On behalf of the residents and volunteers we just want to say thank you to Celliers and her models,” Ramorwaswi said.
Story and photo: Herbert Rachuene
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