St Mary’s Children’s Home receives two brand new buses

Its director Sonja Harmse thanked Luigi D’Ovidio for facilitating the sponsorship. “With crime and other social ills in our neighbourhood, we do not allow our children to walk or take public transport when they go to school.

Uncle Luigi, as he is affectionately known by our children, always helped us with our transport, especially when we had breakdowns. He has always been there for us.

Two years ago he suggested that we need new buses; little did we know that today we will be having them.

Thank again for always be there for us. Words cannot express what you have done for us, you’ve really been the difference in our children.

“We also like to thank Uncle Luigi for introducing us to different people who have been great to us, without him, we wouldn’t be known. By talking to others he helped us keep going. He is loved by children not only for bring pizza but for also giving them shoes, every child here has shoes because of him. I hope you will be with us for many years and see the success of these children, their marriages and prosperous life. I must say if people talk about me the way they talk about you, I will say I am successful. Thank you for the two buses,” explained Harmse.

The event was graced by different dignitaries including Consul General of Italy, Emanuela Curnis. Speaking on behalf of Uncle Luigi, Maurizio Mariano said his family and D’Ovidio’s family knew each other since the 1950s.

“Luigi has always a giving person, he always love and help people. I remember when his father died when he fell on a construction site; he was in a ship with his mother to South Africa.

The relationship with Iveco didn’t start now; it started back in 1968 as he was a talented driver.

“I mean in Pik Botha’s time he used to help struggling Italians. Also when Winnie Mandela turned 80, Luigi had a table of 10 in her birthday. What irked him a lot was that some of the rich people didn’t consider giving to the less fortunate, that is why I said as long as he is alive people will always benefit from him,” he said.

On behalf of Iveco, Roberto Nobili they are glad to support St Mary’s Children’s Home.

“We are involved in social investment here in South Africa and abroad. As the company embark on new technology we didn’t forget our community. We wish St Mary’s Children’s Home more safe kilometres of driving in their brand new buses,” he said.

About St Mary’s Children’s Home

They have been operational since 1902, making them 117 years old. Their service includes residential care to 60 children (although they presently have 40), designated to them through Children’s Court on account of the Child Care Act.

Reasons include abuse (mental, physical, emotional and sexual abuse) and/or neglect, being orphaned or more have been infected or affected by the HIV/Aids virus.

It was started by the sisters of St Margaret’s East Grimstead as St Mary’s Orphanage with six orphans of the Anglo Boer War.

By June 1970, it was thought that the Home would definitely have to close but due to the dedication and forefront of the executive committee, in particular, Mrs Cynthia Green, who was the secretary, the Home was not only kept open but the concept of the Home was changed from that of the old institution to that of the modern residential child care concept of family units.

With this went the change of the name from St Mary’s Orphanage to St Mary’s Children’s Home.

For more information they are situated at 42 Zinnia Street, Rosettenville, you can also contact them on Sonja@smch.co.za or 011 435 3820, alternatively visit www.stmaryschildrenshome.org.za