Giving children a safe space to just be children

Through tough times and since 2012, the Bona Lesedi Women and Child Care centre have always opened their hearts to the community.

At the head of this organisation is the very determined Elizabeth Mabue. She was born and raised in Munsieville and explained to the News that she grew up in less than ideal circumstances.

She remembers that while growing up, there was not always food on the table and she would some times drink sugar water to keep her going. She recalled how she would then go to school hungry and had to see her friends with their lunches.

Her mother was a hard working domestic worker and mother of four.

Eventually she started working for a company and she would be in charge of delivering bread on a daily basis. Elizabeth said that she would always hand out bread to hungry children and they reminded her of herself when she grew up.

She reached out to the Polokego shelter for abused women and children and with the help of others they started distributing food two times a week.

Then in 2016 they moved to the premises they are at now and the feeding scheme has also expanded over the years. These days they provide two meals a day to 145 children and with the help of KFC’s Hope foundation they have been able to give these children the nutrition they need to focus and tackle every day.

But Bona Lesedi is not just a feeding scheme anymore, it is a place where the children of Munsieville can go to feel safe. Where they can get help with their homework and safely play with their friends. The organisation also fills other needs by providing toiletry packs, clothes and more to the children when they need it.

Elizabeth told the story of one of the children they support, John*.

John* has two brothers and when Elizabeth met him for the first time in 2017 he was just five years old.

His mother had left him and his brothers to live with their grandfather while she went to Kagiso to live with her boyfriend. Their grandfather did not have any work so there was not much food in the house and John’s growth was so stunted he looked like a three year old.

When his grandfather could not look after him during the day, his then seven year old brother had to skip school to look after him. The brothers also had to sell Umqombothi for their grandfather.

Bona Lesedi jumped in to help and the brothers still get two warm meals and everything they need from the organisation. Today they are happy healthy children.

Emmah Mutimutema from KFC’s Hope Foundation, explained that they have been helping Bona Lesedi for a while.

“If the children are hungry they can not focus and look after themselves. As KFC we have always been about feeding. We want the children to receive a warm meal every day,” she said. KFC has about 140 that they are currently supporting through their Hope Foundation.

Bona Lesedi relies on donations from the community to keep helping those that need it most. If you would like to support this organisation you can contact Elizabeth on 081 268 4861.

*Not his real name.