THEMBELENKOSINI Caregivers is in a low-income area at Senaoane in Soweto.
There is a high unemployment rate and no job opportunities. As a result orphans and vulnerable children have very little and cannot depend on their neighbours forsupport.
This was why Khosi Ntshangase opened the Thembelenkosini Drop-in Centre.
Ntshangase says: "There are many orphans and vulnerable children here. The majority have only one parent - the other having died of HIV-Aids. Many are cared for by their grandmothers or distant relatives. It is a worrying trend that does not seem to have an end.
"They come to us after school to play, participate in sports activities and for help with their homework."
Thembelenkosini is housed at St Hilda's Anglican Church. About 100 children rely on the services at the centre. Others drop in for a free meal. Often, this is their only meal for the day.
"The children are from nearby Maweni, Bafikile and Sbongile schools. They are identified by their teachers and referred to us for intervention. They range from Grade R to Grade 7.
"We do not have sponsors. We have applied to various departments but so far there has been no response."
Thembelenkosini has six full-time workers who volunteer their services because they are passionate about the welfare of the children.
Ntshangase says: "We want to educate the children. Though we feed them, it is education that will get them out of the rut of poverty.
"We ask the public to help us with programmes to raise the awareness of the children. We want them to learn to speak, write and read English like model C pupils."
Ntshangase says the centre has received help from South West Gauteng College, which held a career exhibition for the children.
"They brought along officials from the Department of Labour, who enrolled our older children in ITC and promised them jobs.
"We need a structured approach to our under-15s. Any donation is welcome ... we can sell cups and many things at our charity shop."
The centre will host a function on Heritage Day to showcase the children's talents.
Orphans, vulnerable kids find refuge at Thembelenkosini
THEMBELENKOSINI Caregivers is in a low-income area at Senaoane in Soweto.
There is a high unemployment rate and no job opportunities. As a result orphans and vulnerable children have very little and cannot depend on their neighbours forsupport.
This was why Khosi Ntshangase opened the Thembelenkosini Drop-in Centre.
Ntshangase says: "There are many orphans and vulnerable children here. The majority have only one parent - the other having died of HIV-Aids. Many are cared for by their grandmothers or distant relatives. It is a worrying trend that does not seem to have an end.
"They come to us after school to play, participate in sports activities and for help with their homework."
Thembelenkosini is housed at St Hilda's Anglican Church. About 100 children rely on the services at the centre. Others drop in for a free meal. Often, this is their only meal for the day.
"The children are from nearby Maweni, Bafikile and Sbongile schools. They are identified by their teachers and referred to us for intervention. They range from Grade R to Grade 7.
"We do not have sponsors. We have applied to various departments but so far there has been no response."
Thembelenkosini has six full-time workers who volunteer their services because they are passionate about the welfare of the children.
Ntshangase says: "We want to educate the children. Though we feed them, it is education that will get them out of the rut of poverty.
"We ask the public to help us with programmes to raise the awareness of the children. We want them to learn to speak, write and read English like model C pupils."
Ntshangase says the centre has received help from South West Gauteng College, which held a career exhibition for the children.
"They brought along officials from the Department of Labour, who enrolled our older children in ITC and promised them jobs.
"We need a structured approach to our under-15s. Any donation is welcome ... we can sell cups and many things at our charity shop."
The centre will host a function on Heritage Day to showcase the children's talents.
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