SIYANAKEKELA responded swiftly when it discovered that many orphans and vulnerable children live in dire circumstances in Wattville township in Benoni.
SIYANAKEKELA responded swiftly when it discovered that many orphans and vulnerable children live in dire circumstances in Wattville township in Benoni.
Wattville borders on the industrial area of Dunswart, where many international companies have their factories. It employs thousands of workers but the area also has its share of unemployed.
Siyanakekela is an outreach programme of the Anglican Church of the Resurrection. It feeds about 350 children on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Mama Angel heard about its good works and donated food for the feeding scheme.
"Most of the children live in the Emandleni squatter camp behind Tintown," churchwarden Sizakele Xaba said.
"It is an economically depressed area where parents do not work, are terminally ill or children are brought up by grannies. There are some child-headed families or those who are informally fostering children," Xaba said.
Siyanakekela came about when parishioners visited Ekukhanyeni Primary School and discovered that the feeding scheme was inadequate. The children were served one meal, mostly soup, a day.
"We give the children supper twice a week. We discovered that sometimes the soup they got at school was the only meal they ate. The church gives us R1000 a month to buy food but sometimes our members donate sugar and other foods to keep the kitchen open.
"The diocese said we should feed all the children regardless of their denomination. They have also promised to help us once we give them a report on our activities," Xaba said.
The soup kitchen is run by volunteers who are unemployed. They receive a plate of food and vouchers during the festive season. Siyanakekela is in the process of registering with the Department of Social Welfare so that it can become eligible for stipends.
"Thank you for the donation. Our churchwardens were bug eyed when they received the food," Xaba said.
Timely donation for needy children
SIYANAKEKELA responded swiftly when it discovered that many orphans and vulnerable children live in dire circumstances in Wattville township in Benoni.
SIYANAKEKELA responded swiftly when it discovered that many orphans and vulnerable children live in dire circumstances in Wattville township in Benoni.
Wattville borders on the industrial area of Dunswart, where many international companies have their factories. It employs thousands of workers but the area also has its share of unemployed.
Siyanakekela is an outreach programme of the Anglican Church of the Resurrection. It feeds about 350 children on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Mama Angel heard about its good works and donated food for the feeding scheme.
"Most of the children live in the Emandleni squatter camp behind Tintown," churchwarden Sizakele Xaba said.
"It is an economically depressed area where parents do not work, are terminally ill or children are brought up by grannies. There are some child-headed families or those who are informally fostering children," Xaba said.
Siyanakekela came about when parishioners visited Ekukhanyeni Primary School and discovered that the feeding scheme was inadequate. The children were served one meal, mostly soup, a day.
"We give the children supper twice a week. We discovered that sometimes the soup they got at school was the only meal they ate. The church gives us R1000 a month to buy food but sometimes our members donate sugar and other foods to keep the kitchen open.
"The diocese said we should feed all the children regardless of their denomination. They have also promised to help us once we give them a report on our activities," Xaba said.
The soup kitchen is run by volunteers who are unemployed. They receive a plate of food and vouchers during the festive season. Siyanakekela is in the process of registering with the Department of Social Welfare so that it can become eligible for stipends.
"Thank you for the donation. Our churchwardens were bug eyed when they received the food," Xaba said.
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