Thabo, a man for the community
After receiving a sizable donation recently, Thabo Jamo used this money to invest in two groups from Tarlton.
Thabo Jamo wants to help his community in any way possible. Through his non-profit organisation, Black 888, he wants to reach as many people as he possibly can.
Thabo recently wrote and published two books and on 21 November he held a book launch party – the kicker was that all the money raised through the party will be used to help less fortunate families with food parcels over the festive season.
But the good news did not end there. Thabo explained that he was approached by a soccer team from Tarlton two years ago.
“At that time I did not have the means to help them. I tried by sponsoring transport and lunch boxes when they went to matches,” he said.
A few weeks ago his situation changed when a very generous donation of R50 000 was made to Thabo’s Black 888 organisation.
He saw this as an opportunity to bring change and phoned the soccer team which, at that stage, had no financial support, claiming their coach had run away with their money. Thabo invested R25 000 into the team and bought them new uniforms and gear to practise in. The team of about 20 youngsters between the ages of 17 and 20 years were so grateful that they renamed their team, and will henceforth be known as the FC Black 888 Club.
Around the same time two years ago, Thabo met some local DJs who were also struggling. He explained that people would book these DJs to perform at events, and then either not pay them or try to pay them in alcohol.
How do you feed your family with alcohol as payment?” asked Thabo.
These DJs then started working for him and although he could not pay them, he helped out with food parcels and other necessities.
The group, now known as the Black 888 DJs, work for the organisation and Thabo used the rest of the money to invest in them. The other R25 000 will go towards everything the group needs to continue working. The money they make at events will then be their remuneration.
Everyone involved pitched in for the book launch party, and they are really excited to hand out food parcels to 30 families in Tarlton at the start of December.
