Our Kidz at Beacon Hill (by Gail Cooper)
Early May this year, Joyce Dlamini (the lady who does my ironing) told me about a group of children who collect at her house every afternoon. As the group got bigger she started a simple “Sunday School” program to keep them occupied. They start off singing worship songs; she then teaches them how to pray and tells them a Bible Story.
Most of these children are from very poor family situations. Joyce said that most of them only had one school outfit and a hand-me-down bit of clothing.
|
I told Revd Margi the story and she said that we should appeal to the Parish congregants for help. We started by collecting tins of food, money donations, and bags of second hand clothes. The appeal was answered so positively that we were able to buy each of the forty plus kids a warm tracksuit or a jersey and pants outfit. With further money coming in we bought a few blankets and more food. |
At the moment we are providing three meals a week, which Joyce hands out to the kids. This is normally two 5 litre ice-cream containers of very thick vegetable soup, a big bag of meilie meal or rice and tins of pilchards, tomato & onion mix, beans, fruit and powered soup. The congregation of Selborne and Umdoni Retirement Village supply food every week and with this we are able to keep these young children from going to bed hungry every night. |
|
Second hand clothes that cannot be used by the children are sold and this money goes towards buying food. Joyce has since joined the church of St Patricks and has made contact with Joy Gumede who runs our Parish Kids Club. They will both be attending a Sunday School Workshop early in September. |
Click on the first photo to start the slide show:
