Happy Christmas for a centre that faced closure

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Last year Health-e News reported how the Drop-in Centre, which provides daily meals to more than 150 orphaned and vulnerable children, was on the verge of closing its doors after almost a decade due to lack of funding. “We are overjoyed that this year we are going to have a Christmas party for the children. Last year we did not even have food to give them,” said Rose Maumela, founder and manager of the centre.We are overjoyed that this year we are going to have a Christmas party for the children.

Last year we did not even have food to give them.

“Even though we received the grant late, we are happy that the department came to our rescue. We will now be able to buy gifts and Christmas clothes for the children, which is an achievement because our main aim is to keep all these children happy,” said Maumela. Located 40km east of Louis Trichardt, the centre provides meals and tutoring to orphans and children who are faced with difficult situations at their homes. Some of the classes on offer include topics such as the dangers of teenage pregnancy, healthy lifestyles and HIV and Aids.

The centre was founded in 2009 when residents noticed that orphans and vulnerable children in the area had nowhere to go after school. “We realised there were children who were not getting food after school due to their situations at their homes and others had no one to help and monitor their school work. We help them with their homework,” said Maumela. The centre operates from a rented building and depends on grants from the government and donations from local businesses to keep its doors open.

An edited version of this story appeared on www.Health24.com.