Spearheaded by the Boikanyo non-profit organisation, the zoo offered free entrance to the participants and treated the group to their first-ever experience at Johannesburg Zoo.
Each child was also given a Santa shoe box to take home, and were joined by several social workers and student volunteers.
Boikanyo is based in Soweto where they run a number of projects with the community and schools.
The organisation works closely with social workers from the Soweto Parent and Child Counselling Centre (SPCCC) who attend to the emotional needs of about 380 child- and grandparent-headed households living in Mapetla, Protea South, Chiawelo and Lufhereng.
Boikanyo strives to assist by providing for their physical needs, be it clothing, blankets, stationery, toiletries, vegetables and food hampers. They have also set up a vegetable garden at Sedibathutho Primary School in Mapetla.
Details: www.boikanyo.org.za