Meet Amon Mwamba and his wife Jeanette. Amon retired after 40 years service at Halls. Moved by the abuse and suffering of children in child-headed households in the Mataffin community in Nelspruit, he has used his pension to build a creche and an after school drop in centre for 150 orphans. The older children are given a hot meal after school and helped with their homework.
A classroom has been built but is incomplete - he owes the carpenter R2 200.00 which he doesn't have. He also needs to raise the funds to finish the ceiling and electrics as well as to glaze the windows. A donor has offered floor tiles, but Amon needs to buy the tile glue and grout, and lay them.
The Dept of Social Development is unable to allocate any funds to his project, but have suggested that he fundraise within the community. Unfortunately, the community is a very poor one so fundraising is slow. I realise that this is one of thousands of such needy projects around the country, but this is one that is close to my heart. Amon and Jeanette are making a difference, assisted by volunteers from the community. They saw a need and are doing their best on their own initiative and out of their own pockets to solve it.
Social Welfare delivers some bread weekly, the centre grows it's own vegetables and the staff dip into their own pockets to supplement whatever food donations they get, ensuring the orphans get at least 1 hot meal a day.
I'd love to share this special place with you, so if you have an hour to spare we can set up a visit so that you can see for yourself the happy little faces and I'm sure you'll also be touched by the special safe place Amon and Jeanette and their ladies have created for the kids, from so little. It's a humbling experience to spend time there.
Woodhouse Community Care Base, PO Box 6 Mataffin 1205, registration number 089-534-NPO. Contact numbers Amon 72 619 3511 / 079 082 5420.
Please share this, and if you can help in any way it would be so appreciated. Thank you
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