The Mall of Thembisa through its Back to school campaign identified two non- profit organisations and made means to donate the befitting educational necessities to the children who are accommodated by the establishments, prior to the schools opening on the 15th of February.
The mega business hub has donated 14 of each of the following Uniform items: T-shirts,shoes, trousers along with 14 school bags to Siyazigabisa Home of Hope centre and during the drive the other foundation named Charlotte Mmifi also received six (6) of each of the following uniform items which are: trousers,T-shirts, shoes with six(6) bags and 20 stationery packs in Tembisa on the 10th of February 2021.
“This initiative serves as the fundamental base towards the social requirement for community based businesses to partake in assisting and uplifting communities within their vicinity, themed as the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) gesture.”
Gabsile Khoza the founder of Siyazigabisa Home of Hope centre was overwhelmed with joy and she expressed herself saying: “I’m very excited today because Mall of Thembisa has taken the role to assist my children, my burdens have been relieved today; when I received a call from them yesterday,it made me to believe that indeed I’m serving the living god, with the lockdown regulations in place, we didn’t have any donors; so what the mall is doing for us is very encouraging.
She further revealed, stating that, “I have a vision to help abandoned, underprivileged and disabled children, because I had faced so many challenges as a young girl, I was raped randomly from the age of seven (7) years, so I understand how it is to feel abandoned and depressed, during that particular time I felt drained, but god managed to redeem me. So my vision is to do what god has done for me by helping others, we also host programmes which assist people with various issues, especially those who are abused, violated and raped; and I also like to mention that we also feed 200 people on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in our community as an organisation, “she vividly disclosed.
A young girl ( Mbontle Maseko) who was adopted by Siyazigabisa Home of Hope centre when she was only two (2) years, seized the opportunity to divulge how the centre has moulded her, saying, “I was accommodated in the centre when I was only two(2) years old, I have received all the love, care and motivation I need in life from the owner and the volunteering employees of this home, we feel blessed and happy, because we received uniform items and bags today which are provided by the Mall of Thembisa; what is happening today is motivating me to do the same when I’m older and wiser,” she stated.
The other donation recipient who owns Charlotte Mmifi foundation, Sina Mmifi, didn’t hesitate stating that, “I’m happy to have received these donations; especially today because it’s my birthday these are the best gifts that I have received in my life. I started operating my foundation from 2015, this is my first time receiving any form of donations; I’m very thankful and glad, because it massively encourages me to keep on doing my work, I would like to thank the Mall of Thembisa for carrying out this drive,” she stated in jubilation.
The children in Charlotte Mmifi foundation were overjoyed and pleased to be recipients of the donated items.
The marketing manager of the Mall of Thembisa, Mfunekwa Sithole, said, “I was fairly touched by what I saw in those homes; there are so many people who are sacrificing a lot to help out other people, my perspective on life changed massively after what I saw. As the Mall of Thembisa I’m glad we offered a helping hand; I selected the two foundations because they are accommodating underprivileged, abandoned and disabled children, so it is satisfying to help them out,” she alluded.
People who are willing to spread helping hands to both organisations can call them separately on the following numbers: 084 212 9437-Gabsile Khoza(Siyazigabisa Home of Hope centre) and Charlotte Mmifi(Charlotte Mmifi foundation) on 064 584 1249.
By Matampane Raymond Mokwena
