Compassionate teacher drives charity auction

FROM paintings to vases, antiques, furniture items – just about everything valuable can be used to provide needed shelter for underprivileged children.

Empangeni educator Judith Dunn, is spearheading a charity auction, aimed to raise funds and rebuild a local children centre, Lungelo Youth Development (LYD) in Mzingazi.

The Empangeni Preparatory School teacher and Mrs Zululand finalist pleads with Zululanders to open their hearts and pledge items towards the campaign.

‘People can donate anything towards the auction. There will be a catalogue with a list of items donated, which can be viewed and they can decide what to bid on during the event,’ she said.

The LYD centre is currently headed by local caregiver Mary Mlambo.

She assist children with their school work, afternoon and weekend classes, art and conducts regular motivational talks.

The centre has served as a heart of the community for more than five years.

‘There is not enough space to accommodate all children at the moment.

‘In order for them to be able to learn and explore, they need a more bigger space and continuous support,’ said Dunn.

‘There is land available where we can build a bigger premises with proper toilets.

‘We can provide that environment if we come together,’ she said.

The passionate teacher currently drives an educational programme, the African Education Ambassador Project.

She examines several challenges that confront pupils, including the content to teach, nature of their assessment, and the most effective ways to motivate them, and illustrates, through stories of practitioners and their teaching.

Her philosophy is to be practical and to ‘let children be children’.