Veritas College gives 67 minutes to East Rand Children’s Haven
The children in the home's care received a meal, sweets packet and love and attention from learners, while the home received cleaning supplies and toiletries.
Veritas College Springs learners paid a visit to East Rand Children’s Haven on July 16, as part of their 67 Minutes outreach and community service.
The home received cleaning supplies and toiletries, while the children in its care received a McDonald’s meal and sweets.
The learners also provided love and attention, spending their 67 minutes getting to know the children.
Mariana Sousa (president) and Khumo Lebethe (vice-president) of the school’s Edmund Rice Society (ERS), an international society operating under Christian Brothers’ Colleges (CBC), say Mandela Day and 67 Minutes mean a lot to them.
Beyond the CBC’s requirement that member schools’ learners should complete 40 hours of community service every year, the learners appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the ‘village that helps to raise the child’.
“We’re children ourselves, so we understand best what other children need, and by helping the children of the haven we can help the larger community,” Mariana said.
“It’s about living out and following in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela by touching hearts. At home we learn that the village raises the child, and that makes them part of the community, so we want to be part of that village,” Khumo said.
“A day like this helps these children feel important, and by spending time with them we help the community at large, as they still impact the community,” Mariana explained.
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Both have been very involved in community service since primary school, where they held shoe drives for learners and supported old age homes, collecting food and blankets for the SPCA.
While most of their outreach projects have been in Springs, Mariana carried out a project at Felicitas School in Brakpan, which she describes as “very touching”.
“People need to make time for our children, wherever they find themselves, because troubled adults come from troubled childhoods, so by being kind to children we break the cycle,” she said.
“People often complain about issues in the community, but then they do nothing to make the community better. You can’t complain if you don’t take action. By being a part of the community, you make it better for everyone,” Khumo said.
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