Fun fair helps raise funds for Mzinti’s needy
Kids screamed in the delight on various rides or in fright in the ghost house at the first Nkomazi Kiddies Fun Fair last Saturday, all the while helping to raise funds for the needy in Mzinti
KAMHLUSHWA – .Siyatentela Active Buddies hosted a fun fair from Thursday to Saturday last week to provide kids with a safe environment to have fun, give parents a day off and raise funds for their work with local orphans, a home-based care centre and skills training.
A wide variety of rides, water games and a slide kept the kids occupied for the whole day, while parents browsed the stalls with food and crafts or viewed exhibitions by government departments.
PHOTOS: Kids have a blast at first fun fair in KaMhlushwa
On Saturday morning, drum majorettes from Siyatentela entertained with their precise movements and enthusiastic drummers and cultural group Siludlangaloludzala, from Schoemansdal, had the crowd cheering with marimba music, traditional dancing and singing.
One of the organisers, Nester Msimango, explained that their aim was also to expose children to local culture and to help create jobs in the community through their various projects.
With the funds they raised at the event, they will be able to buy food for the orphans and vulnerable children at their home-based care centre. Kids are given food three times a week.
Siyatentela also works with other non-profit organisations and assists the orphans with donations of school shoes and provides uniforms for the performers like the drum majorettes.
and kept the kids safe each day.
Siyatentela teaches sewing, beading and reading skills to teens in the community and, through the drum majorettes programme, provides youngsters from various local schools with a good after-school hobby.
“Through activities such as these, we are trying to change their minds and keep them off the streets doing crime. We want them to learn about traditions and continue on doing good things in the community,” said Msimango, who trains the drum majorettes.
She also stated that she dreams of knowing Nkomazi’s history and teaching it to children, passing on traditions and uniting the community.
READ: Children learn all about culture through dancing
Msimango also hopes to one day be able to assist Nkomazi talent to appear on local radio and national TV and promoting siSwati through film and television programmes.
Siyatentela would like to host another fun fair or similar event before the end of the year, but is aiming to get governmental funding to host the event annually.
For more information on the organisation and their projects, contact project manager Nomahlubi Nkosi on 082-779-3885.
