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Feeding young and old

GOOD WORK: Caregivers of the Lusito Community Upliftment Project in Zondi, Soweto, serve lunch to some of the 350children they feed every day after school. 11/02/09. Pic. Lindi Obose. © Sowetan.
GOOD WORK: Caregivers of the Lusito Community Upliftment Project in Zondi, Soweto, serve lunch to some of the 350children they feed every day after school. 11/02/09. Pic. Lindi Obose. © Sowetan.

Nthabisang Moreosele

Nthabisang Moreosele

Mama Angel has lent a helping hand to the Lusito Community Upliftment Project in Soweto.

She delivered groceries for the children and pensioners at the centre, where they receive at least two meals a day.

Lusito runs a feeding scheme for orphans and vulnerable children in Zondi, Dobsonville, Jabulani, Mofolo North, Braamfischerville and Slovo.

It feeds 350 children twice a day and gives an extra ration to the orphans who live on their own.

The project also provides meals for the 120 grannies who Lusito has registered.

However, the project is struggling because it has only one small programme to generate funds from.

The children and the grannies make objects out of beads, which are then sold so that there can be food on the table. At present Lusito has run out of beads and the project is at a standstill.

Lusito coordinator Sbongiseni Biyela said: "We started the project here at Phakamani Primary School in 2005 with two rented classrooms.

"We began as a drop-in centre for the children, to help them with their homework and to teach them art.

"Then we realised that they were not learning anything at school because they were always hungry.

"Children are unable to perform well or learn when they are starving.

"We then started giving them a meal after school, and their performance improved tremendously. We have expanded the project gradually, but are still struggling to get a donor.

"Our caregivers do not receive a stipend and we would be very grateful if someone would come to our rescue.

"The American embassy gave us a small grant to buy dry dispensaries for our home-based care project.

"Unfortunately, thieves broke into the centre through the roof and helped themselves to our equipment."

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