Dawn irons out youth challenges

ZULULAND’S Dawn Irons currently cares for 35 abused children of all ages and 40 additional orphaned youngsters on a permanent basis, so it should come as no surprise that she is one of Clover’s 21 elected ‘Mama Afrikas’.

The Clover Mama Afrika project honours women around the country who make a difference in their communities, and further empowers them with sustainable skills that can be transferred to the community at large.

At the Ubombo Children’s Care Village, Irons provides aftercare supervision to local pupils by assisting them with education and encouraging them to participate in extramural activities such as sport, arts and crafts.

She also runs an outreach programme helping 300 children and several households in the rural areas of northern Zululand.

Irons has so far implemented a long list of sustainable skills training such as sewing, pottery and baking, as well as self-help projects like art for the youth to explore their talents and raise funds through their creativity.

‘I am very blessed to have been selected as a Mama Afrika, and with this valuable support we are bettering the lives of many in our community,’ Dawn says.

‘I have good plans in progress for the children’s home.

‘It started with the chapel that is well used for activities on Saturdays and as a Sunday school.

‘We also have a learning centre and will soon be receiving a proper play area for the little ones,’ says Dawn.

Last week the Clover team embarked on a road show to visit all ‘Mama Afrika’ centres nationwide.

In meeting Irons last Thursday, Clover’s Corporate Services Manager Elain Vlok says she was floored by the local role model’s passion for her work in caring for the region’s many minors in need.

‘Mama Dawn is an inspiring woman who never lets anything get her down and who always strives to make a difference at whatever cost,’ said Vlok.