DURBAN North athlete and teacher, Jessica Khomo, began her new year on a positive note after delivering hundreds of sporting items to underprivileged children.

The SPAR Proteas netball player, last year, began a sports and shoe drive to help children in underprivileged areas.

Khomo, who teaches at Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, has been working with children from Umgababa, the Briardene Informal Settlement and learners at Kingsburgh Primary School on the south coast.

The 26-year-old recently started the non-profit organisation, Mpiloyonke Foundation, an NPO that mentors and educates the youth on the importance of their passion, talents and skills in empowering themselves, families and their communities.

Two learners from the school, Eve Chettleburgh and Tiffany Christensen have donated hundreds of items of sporting equipment but the duo also raised more than R1 000 from a market day sale which they donated towards the cause.

What is more, both learners have accompanied Khomo to donate the items at Briardene Informal Settlement.

“A big highlight for me was having Eve, her mother and Tiffany accompany me when we handed over the donations to the Briardene Youth Centre (BYC), an NPO run by residents of the settlement. Having seen the difference they’ve made the girls have committed to collecting more items for the different initiatives. For me it was also important for the girls to see who they were helping,” Khomo explained.

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