Foundation share special gifts with orphans

CHRISTMAS is a special time that should be filled with joy, traditions, family and celebrating the birth of Jesus.

But for orphaned children, Christmas could easily be a reminder of abuse, abandonment and a depressing time where they feel forgotten.

Londeka Jobela Sibisi Foundation (LJS) in partnership with their sponsors Pick n Pay (Christian Village) and Food Lovers Market (The Colony) took it upon themselves to find ways to put smiles on children’s face by hosting A Christmas Party With A Purpose for the underprivileged children of Esibusisweni Orphanage in KwaNyuswa.

The foundation is named after Londiwe Jobela Sibisi, a gifted and dynamic young woman who passed away on 17 April 2016 after she suffered an asthma attack.

She was doing her final year at Rhodes University and among other activities, was a mentor to high school students in Grahamstown.

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“Our desire was to show the children that they are not forgotten but that they are loved. Children in these orphanages need to feel the excitement around Christmas just as other children will be doing so during this period,” said Londiwe’s mom, Nosipho Jobela-Sibisi.

She said every child deserves to feel special even if it is just for one day, “and our aim was to share the joy of Christmas with children who have little or nothing, and to make a difference in their lives by making them feel special with an individually packed and named gift.

“For many children, this is the only gift they can receive each year and the story of Jesus birth was shared and the true meaning of Christmas celebrated. Jesus came to save, to heal the hurting, to feed the hungry and to bring joy to the world and bless the children,” said Nosipho.

The children enjoyed a Christmas feast and gifts were distributed for all the children.

The beaming smiles on the children’s faces when they received the gifts made it all worthwhile.