St Mary’s Children’s Home hosts its 118th AGM

It briefed role-players and concerned parties about the year’s work at the children’s home, as well as its finances.

According to St Mary’s CEO Sonja Harmse, this year was a difficult one, with both physical and emotional problems experienced by both the staff and the children at the home.

“But it was also a year of experiencing grace, the value of faith, people’s warm-heartedness, the children’s resilience, their joy despite challenges, commitment, dedication, the fact that problem-solving is a skill, that creativity can stretch a budget, that joy does not depend on circumstances and those miracles are a reality in 2021,” said Harmse.

The executive committee chairperson, advocate Mancha Manaka, shared his views on the year and thanked those who showed their generosity towards the home.

He did, however, also highlight the extreme effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the home, especially how it infringed on the constitutional rights of the children at the home.

Phillip Geyer, the honorary treasurer, explained the financial state of St Mary’s, indicating that while they survived the year, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has had major financial effects on the home.

“Although the annual financial statements reflect the position at our financial year-end, they, unfortunately, do not give a fair account of the struggles encountered during the year,” said Geyer.

“Great was our expectations of 2021, only to experience that our uninvited and unwelcome visitor, Covid-19, was still here,” said Harmse in her report.

“At the end of March, it was clear that our envisioned growth has been overtaken by the reality of having to go smaller.”

St Mary’s is calling on everyone to help it keep its doors open and provide a home for its children in need.

“I’ve reported at many AGMs in the past the devastating consequences for our children, our committed personnel, the community and our beloved country at large if St Mary’s door has to be closed. Too much is at stake,” said Harmse.

Get involved

You or your business can assist St Mary’s Children’s home in various ways. You can act as a PRO on the home’s behalf in your workplace, community, church or circle of friends and introduce the home to possible sponsors.

You can also contribute directly to help the home with its crucial operational expenses by signing a monthly debit order of adopting a child, family or cottage as an individual, family or business.

If you would like to become involved with the home or would like more information about how you can help, call St Mary’s on 011 435 3820 or Sonja Harmse on 083 267 3515.

Alternatively, you can send an email to Sonja@smch.co.za or publicrelations@smch.co.za.