Christmas came early for children from around Site B, Khayelitsha, when Uyesu Unathi Project presented them with festive goodies and delivered a motivational talk, on Wednesday December 7.
An estimated 2 000 children were showered with Christmas gifts, including toys and sweets, at the celebration held at Andile Msiza Hall. The gifts came as a welcome relief for the many who rely donations at this time of the year.
Uyesu Unathi manager Sipho Xazana said the celebrations formed part of the church’s end-of-year festivities. He said the project aimed to bring smiles to children’s faces, especially those who were less fortunate. “Today, we invited children from all over Site B to close our year in style. To us, this is not the end, as we have already done this for more than four years now.
“For the past four years, we have been dedicating ourselves to entertaining these children,” he said.
Mr Xazana said they collect clothes and goodies from different donors and distribute them to the needy.
However, he said, they were faced with the challenge of parents who sent their children to collect items more than once.
“What gives great pleasure is that, children are appreciating what we give them. They are excited and getting along very well. All we do is to serve the community.
“The main thing when you deal with people’s money is to be faithful. We challenge business people in Khayelitsha to donate something to non- governmental organisations. Those organisations are doing sterling work for communities,” Mr Xazana said.
Every year, he said, they target 2000 children.
Parent Noluvuyo Mntukwana said she had never seen anything like the event, with so many children together in one place, and appealed to parents to work with all the organisations that come to the township to provide help.
“We appreciate all the work that is being done by different NGOs in our area, including this one.
‘They have made us proud. I have never seen something like this. On behalf of this area, I thank them,” she said.
Ms Mntukwana commended the NGOs for their role in ensuring that young people were empowered and motivated to deal with life challenges.
Likhona Mthwa, 10, who got a teddy bear, expressed her gratitude.
She said she would sleep with her bear every night. She said she was excited to be among the recipients.
“I have a bear that I will sleep with every night. When I get home I will put away so that my big sister does not take it,” she said.
