PHOTO: Hendrik Louw
ALMOST four thousand orphans and widows will converge at the rural support centres built by Izulu Orphan Projects (IOP) on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December.
There they will each receive a toy or toiletries for Christmas, a healthy meal, celebrate the birth of Christ, have access to health services, collect stationary for the coming school year, and finally update their details on the IOP database.
This mammoth event relies heavily on the ongoing financial support of local, national and international donors for the purchase of food for the occasion, gifts and school stationery.
Another need is hundreds of volunteers who will give their time to act as administrators, guides, Christmas elves, face painters, clowns, ‘hot dog engineers’, runners and support staff over the two day event.
At present the IOP staff are walking in faith that 250 community members will step up this week to register as volunteers, and that God will answer their prayers for the outstanding toys, cool drinks and uniform sponsorship still required.
Co-founder and Manager of IOP, Kate Bain, says the event is the only time in the year many of these children will receive anything at all – let alone a gift and sweets.
The organisation – which she founded in 2006 with her late husband Chadd – is making national and international waves due to their groundbreaking welfare management systems, while overseeing over 3 000 of the ‘poorest of the poor’ in rural Zululand..
‘With the ever-growing number of orphans in this country, it is a privilege to be able to host this event. It literally changes lives, not only the lives of those who attend, but it really touches the lives of our volunteers,’ says Kate..
Their support centres hosting the events over the two days are at Mevamhlophe outside Empangeni.
Those who are able to assist in any way are asked to contact IOP on 084 6009947 or sms Kate 083 649 9990.
The IOP website address is www.izuluorphanprojects.co.za.
