Community members cooperate to uplift others for Mandela Day
A group of community members in Orlando is working tirelessly to help uplift the community in the spirit of "every day should be Mandela Day".
KOMATIPOORT – Mr Nkosinathi Mamba and Ms Mariah Continho, who head the fund-raising and project teams, have been working together since 2014 and recently completed two projects as phase one of their Mandela Day contributions.
One team helped to build a toilet, shower and small kitchen for, and connect water to, the house of a pensioner.
Mamba was thankful for BUCO Komatipoort’s contribution of about R5 000’s worth of materials to the project.
“When I first visited the house I saw that a dumping site looked better. She had no dignity, no running water. She had been living there eight years,” Mamba said.
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He stated that many RDP houses in Orlando don’t have water or inside toilets, and that the need in the community is huge.
On Saturday afternoon they completed their other project, painting a building used as a crèche.
“I was introduced to the lady last year and hoped to build a room she could use as a crèche. When I visited her to tell her that we’re coming to paint her house, she hugged me tight.”
The woman looks after 12 children and is passionate about their care. She is trying to upgrade her house to better take care of the children.
Building a room for her is still on Mamba’s list of projects. He relies on donations and uses from money his own pocket.
“But the fact that the community can see people are being helped gives them hope that someday they will also be helped,” Mamba said.
Mamba stated that phase two of their Mandela Day project will include raising funds to buy equipment and kits for local soccer teams. By providing children with a healthy hobby, they will help keep them off the streets.
“We as the working class should go down to the ground and help uplift and touch as many people as we can. We don’t just want a good story to tell, but also a good story to do. We want to help people live together in harmony,” he said.
Mamba appealed to the community to get involved and help the people they can. Contact Mamba on 082-405-5860.
