West Rand Joyland recently highlighted the power of women when they unified through a worthy cause. On Tuesday, August 9 the nursery school welcomed all the strong, caring and loving women who were eager to make a difference through their ‘Mommy and Me’ event.
The event was held at the West Rand Lutheran Community Church in the form of a fundraising tea, with Neema Lalela Foster Home and Matla A Bana as the beneficiaries. Each table with its own representation of Women’s Day was decorated elegantly by its host and laden with a wide variety of snacks.
Since Neema Lalela, West Rand Lutheran Community Church, Riverbank Primary School and Joyland are all located on the same premises, each organisation made sure to play its part to raise some much-needed funds for Neema Lalela.
This foster home currently looks after eight teens. However, they are running low on funds to pay school fees and meet the basic, daily needs of the youngsters, and they are in desperate need of assistance from the community to help keep the home afloat.
Also read: https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2016/10/06/vw-up-for-neema-lalela/
The event also served to create awareness around Matla A Bana – registered non-profit organisation aimed at helping children who are victims of rape and other forms of abuse.
On the day the attendees helped to assemble some well-known Matla A Bana comfort packs, which usually contain a colouring book, crayons, some yummy treats, toiletries, underwear and a teddy bear.
The comfort packs are distributed to police stations all over the country where they are given to girls aged between five and 12 when they report sexual crimes to the police.
A few artists took to the stage to perform one or two special numbers for the audience. Guest speaker, Valma Buitendacht handed over a special Lifetime Award to Magistrate Delizé Smith for her hard work and dedication toward cases involving women and children in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court since 1978. She is also believed to have been one of the first women in the country to become a magistrate.
Secondly an award for most tickets sold was given to teacher Faith from Joyland. She was commended for having sold a large number of tickets to ensure a well-attended and successful event.
After having enjoyed some scrumptious cake, snacks, drinks and company, the mothers and daughters in attendance were invited to a craft corner where they created special note books for the Matla A Bana comfort packs.
Joyland wishes to thank each and every person who contributed to the success of the event as they directly contributed to the happiness of a child. The event also showed that few bonds are as close as that of a mother and her daughter.
