Pretoria residents praised for their generosity

Thousands of Pretoria residents attended the 23rd massive Nickel Christmas Market from November 23 until December 4 at the Kungwini Welfare Organisation premises in the east of Pretoria.

The 12-day fundraising event served as the platform for generating revenue to pay for some of the operational cost at Kungwini Welfare Organisation. This is because the organisation has a care facility housing 160 people living with severe to profound disabilities of which 25 are non-payers owing to their unfavourable financial situations.

Although they are living with disabilities and sometimes unable to perform tasks as fast as those without disabilities, the residents of the shelter spend hours manufacturing products with their skills which they love to be sold to Pretoria residents during the Christmas market.

Some of the products available for sale were from more than 170 exhibitors who contributed 20% of their profit to the charity organisation. Others were donated by residents.

According to Kungwini Welfare Organisation marketing manager Manuela Loubser, the event saw more than 17 000 people attending in just 10 days to do Christmas shopping.

“Since the 23rd of November up until December 2, we had over 17 000 people coming to the event and we expect more in the last two days of the market,” Loubser said.

This was good news, especially to the beneficiaries, the people living with disabilities at the Kungwini Welfare care facility.
She said over the weekend, they expected between 3 000 and 6 000 more people to attend.

“The support we are receiving from the public means a lot to us (the organisation) but not as much as to the beneficiaries. When they see someone buying a product that they took hours to make with their hands they really appreciate it,” she said, citing that they feel valuable and motivated.

“Thank you to the residents of Pretoria who support those living with disabilities.”

The products which were available for sale included home décor, gifts, dog toys, plants, jewellery, bags, belts, food and drinks, among others.

The shoppers were treated to live music, thanks to Swerwer.

One of them, Alta Botha, said she loved visiting the Christmas market.

“I love to come and visit here because I can find things that you do not normally find in shops,” Botha said.
She supported people that were disadvantaged, she said.

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