The arrival of the Covid-19 third wave has led to a chain reaction of financial setbacks to individuals and institutions including vulnerable communities across South Africa.
Non-profit organisation SOS Children’s Villages, located in Woodmead, focuses on providing essential resources such as food, clothes, cleaning supplies and hygienic products to fragmented families and children.
Lebo Phaweni, one of the representatives of the organisation said they supported about 4 000 children in South Africa and they were solely dependent on the donations of South Africans and numerous companies.
“The pandemic continues to significantly impact our country. As a result, our donors had less money to give due to the lockdown and the economic situation,” said Phaweni.
Fast food chain KFC had been able to assist the organisation through its Add Hope campaign which ensured that vulnerable children in South Africa of all ages were able to have a meal a day.
“KFC Add Hope continues to help with our feeding budget in our programmes and we encourage the public to support the initiative.”
The first SOS Children’s Villages campaign was established in 1982 in Ennerdale. Fast forward to the present, and the organisation has three social centres and eight villages where they distribute resources and help strengthen communities.
Phaweni added that seeing children of the organisation transition to a stage where they contributed to society brought her joy.
The organisation has ensured safety measures within its operations by educating the public on how to keep safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19. It has continued to offer support counselling to its staff members and children during the lockdown.
