Child welfare launches scheme to feed the homeless in the city
The programme will help curb social ills such as crime and substance abuse.
CHILD Welfare Kempton Park has kick-started the year with the launch of an outreach programme to help feed people who are living on the street.
Aimed at alleviating poverty among the unfortunate, the programme fed 60 homeless people at the organisation’s premises on Maxwell Street on January 9.
“We believe that no person should go to bed hungry, irrespective of whether they are within a family or not,” said Child Welfare Kempton Park’s director, Makha Thusi.
“For us, this is to ensure human integrity, because as much as people are homeless, they have dignity as human beings.”
Thusi said the programme would also play a role in easing crime and substance abuse in Kempton Park.
“We know that an empty stomach breeds corrupt behaviour, and substance abuse is another factor where people try by all means to cope with their hopeless and helpless situation.”
Once a person has been fed, Thusi believes, their mindset undergoes a change.
“The person will be able to look at life with respect and start having energy to do things for themselves.”
However, more hands will be needed for poverty to be eradicated.
“We are saying we cannot do this alone as Child Welfare Kempton Park,” Thusi said. “We need to stand together and pull the people out of this situation.”
For Thusi, it is saddening to see young children without homes whose lives are potentially in danger.
“We want to curb this problem at its early stages and not wait until it becomes a crisis, because by the time people come over here looking for help, it will already be too late,” she said.
The Aviator Hotel, situated near OR Tambo International Airport, is helping to sponsor the programme with donations of toiletries and food parcels.
“We believe that charity begins at home and our aim is to serve the community,” said Daniel Mhango, assistant general manager of the hotel.
“It is important for us to be more involved and be a part of the difference that child welfare is making in this community.”
The outreach programme will be held on Tuesdays between 12.30pm and 2pm.
