|
|
 |
A Christmas in March for children in need
Latoya Newman. 14 March 2005. The Mercury. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
|
About 4 000 orphaned children in greater KwaZulu-Natal had their spirits lifted last week when a group of Santa's little helpers delivered their long-awaited Christmas gifts.
And although the gifts' arrival was delayed for three months, owing to some shipment hiccups, the children were still overwhelmed by the gesture.
The Exodus Children's Programme, together with the South African Air Force, made the deliveries last week to orphaned children in several areas in Amanzimtoti and other areas on the South Coast, greater Empangeni and other rural parts of the province.
Sharmaine Dobson, Director of Phagamisa Projects - the banner initiative under which Exodus is incorporated - said the gifts were donated through the Franklin Graham Foundation in the United States, with which they co-operated for the handout.
"We liaised with the (foundation's) Samaritan's Purse project," said Dobson.
"It's project, called Operation Child, puts together hand-wrapped, age- and gender-specific presents to be given out all over the world. Our shipment arrived late, but it is never too late to bring a smile to a child who is in desperate need of love," said Dobson.
She said her family started Phagamisa Projects in 1999.
Incorporated under the banner of Phagamisa are several smaller projects that concentrate on different social investment initiatives.
These include a feeding project for more than 7 000 people a week, a medical assistance project, an HIV/AIDS-related programme, a resource supply project for schools and the Exodus programme that targets children in need.
To make last week's delivery possible, Exodus members were assisted by a team from the 15th Squadron of Durban's Air Force Base to airlift the presents.
"Exodus has registered 1 100 children as beneficiaries, but we are in the process of doing another census because our numbers have increased. We do gift-giving every year and sometimes up to three times a year, because we found that doing just one Christmas party is overwhelming.
"Since starting the different outreach projects 28 years ago, we as a family have been financing all the projects with some outside assistance. "However, as we are growing, more projects have come up and we do recognise the need to get more outsourced aid," said Dobson.
Anyone interested in assisting can call Dobson at 082 454 9444. Financial contributions can be made to: Phagamisa Projects, Nedbank, Amanzimtoti, branch code 130627, account number 1306066441, swift number NEDSZAJJ. |
| Was this article helpful to you? |
 ?100%???? ?0%
|
|
Back
|
|
|
|
