Calling on donors for Christmas miracle in Standerton
These gifts will benefit 30 children.
Nompumelelo Nkosi is a social worker extraordinaire who has loved and cared for children and her job. Nkosi is a social worker at Tutela, a community-based NPO that renders social prevention and a world in which all children belong to a safe and happy home.
This festive season Tutela wants the community of Standerton to donate Christmas gifts as well as a compulsory donation of school stationery.
According to Nkosi, they prefer donations to start as soon as possible so they can meet the Christmas deadline.
The Christmas gifts will benefit around 30 children.
“We prefer that children make their own wish list. Some of them have never received any gifts. A gift will boost their morale and make them look forward to everything that life throws at them,” said Nkosi.
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The Christmas gift event has been going on for the past three years. However, they had to cancel the event some years back due to a lack of funding.
“We faced challenges in the past years and had to cancel because it was impossible for us to do it from our own pockets. We hope that this year will be different and people will respond in a much more positive way to ensure that this year’s event is a success,” said Nkosi.
She said that her love for children comes from being brought up by her grandparents as her parents were not there and that pained her a lot.
She wants to put a smile on every child’s face. She stated that many children are neglected by their families. They are also bullied at school.
“We work with parents so that they can understand their children better and how to discipline them. We do one-on-one sessions with children and try to assess them properly so that they can be able to deal with their emotions,” said Nkosi.
Apart from the Christmas donation drive, Tutela has a project where they provide food parcels to families.
“We want children to be safe during school holidays and we urge parents to ensure that there is someone to look after their children during school holidays.”
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Nkosi said that the government is trying to assist with the child support grant. However, parents must ensure that they do everything in their power to support their children.
Nkosi has been working with children for over five years and describes her journey to be challenging, especially when she deals with a child who brings out her childhood trauma.
“Sometimes I cry myself to sleep when I deal with cases when I have to remove children from their homes and take them to a new environment as it gets painful to me. It pains children as well,” added Nkosi.
She said people can drop off their Christmas donation to Tutela at 55 Charl Cilliers Street in Standerton or phone the office at 017 712 7110 or email cmrstandertoncway.co.za
