Dating back to the previous learning regarding poverty alleviation programmes and in line with the Department of Social Development’s mandate; Meals On Wheels Community Services Estcourt (MOWCSE) along with Umtshezi Local Municipality and PicknPay (Estcourt) launched an Mshayazafe National Integrated Programme (NIP) aimed at alleviating this multidimensional phenomenon in a holistic approach.

Thursday, October 28 saw a shift from the general way of living for the community of Mshayazafe (Ward nine), one of the local impoverished areas in Estcourt lacking development in all spheres such as nutrition, health and hygiene and education to name a few.

Due to the demand of the latter, a partnership with the stakeholders mentioned above was crucial in making the event a success. MOWCSE provided 120 households with food parcels to cater for their needs just in time for a busy festive season, but also this will be done on a monthly basis from the launch date.

Mr Samkelo Mlambo, Executive Director of MOWCSE said that giving food parcels and providing cooked meals is not to encourage dependency, but is a once off/random act of kindness. “We strongly believe in the Chinese proverb ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’ so it is part of our role to ensure that all are skilled in every perspective,” said Mr Mlambo.

Although the day was filled with enough entertainment to make it the most memorable day, however the most important was that 60 orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) will be fully equipped with educational needs such as uniforms and cooked meals.

Moreover, a total of 200 households will also be given cooked meals on a daily basis. The Mayor of Umtshezi Local Municipality Bongani Dlamini, added that the open area where the Mshayazafe Hall is situated would have park homes installed at a later stage.

He confirmed that 60 orphans will be getting meals three times a day, full school uniform and be bathed by the Meals on Wheels care givers, whilst child minders will help them to do their homework until 2016.

“It is important to note that this project is targeted at helping everyone in Ward nine no matter your political affiliation. “We further aim to go all out into other wards to also do the same and more”, said Mr Dlamini. The day ended successfully with a nutritious meal given to all that attended this auspicious event. This was the most touching part as most of them it meant the first ever meal in days.