Winter warmers for children for Mandela Day
Vulnerable children's faces lit up during the PEN frozen winter drive.
Blankets, food and clothing have been donated to the Roodeplaat orphans and vulnerable children’s care centre (OVC) in Kameeldrift as part of the annual frozen winter drive campaign. The donation was also part of the build up to the Nelson Mandela day on 18 July, organised by PEN, a non-profit organisation based in the Pretoria city centre.
According to Sweetness Nyembe, project owner at PEN head office, 215 blankets were collected and distributed and food parcels were handed out to the 222 children at Roodeplaat OVC.
“The centre has only three volunteers to take care of the nearly 250 children at any given time. It was established in 2008 and operates from a small garage with minimal facilities. Since its inception, they have been relying on donations to provide nutritional and psychological support for the children,” Nyembe said.
Roodeplaat OVC was started by a group of women headed by Joyce Maboye, supporting children from within and around Kameeldrift.
The children’s faces were not so much lit up by the goods they received but by the opportunity to interact with high-profile people who took part of the frozen winter drive. Among them were government officials, PEN leadership, local councillor Jan Boshoff, Maggie Tsakane SAPS communication officer, Lovelife’s Thabang Molabo and singer Tribute Mboweni.
Third year Tshwane University of Technology marketing and communications students doing their internship at PEN Pretoria devoted themselves fully to the proceedings of the day. They also wanted to bring change in the society by helping to create a sustainable future generation.
For over 20 years PEN Pretoria has been dedicated to improving lives and providing opportunities for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged of society. It has more than 20 managed projects which include housing, education, health, social services, therapy and outreach programmes where food, clothing, training and spiritual support are offered.
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