For some 40 young people from the De Vlei Home Child Care Centre in Diepsloot and Thuthukani Care Centre Ivory Park, Sunday, 22nd September 2013 was a day to remember for the rest of their lives.
Braving the cold winter morning at 05h30 I could not help smile as the exuberant youngsters clambered out of the taxi with their belongings clutched tightly to their chests, excitement glowing in their eyes and broad smiles as they spotted the bus that was going to take them to Cape Town.
They crowded around me as I took photographs and asked them what they were expecting. The air was shrill with their laughter and shrieks as they posed for photographs and shoved to get close to me. "We will be there in 4 hours and we will swim in the sea" - the enthusiasm was contagious!
Under the auspices of Thandanani, a charity organisation, that provides assistance to orphans and children infected and affected by AIDS, they were able to undertake a bus trip to Cape Town.
Thandanani provides much needed relief for many abused children and assists with food parcels, clothing and educational excursions.
After consideration by the CSI Committee, we were happy to be able to sponsor Thandanani with a chest freezer. This will assist Thandanani to store food that they receive from other donors until its ready to be distributed to needy homes.
A small gesture, however as Ruth from Thandanani confirms "it will help so much because now we will be able to help more homes and more children because up until now we have not been able to accept all donations because we have not had anywhere to keep the food fresh".
As part of the excursion, we also donated jeans, t-shirts and shoes to each of the children. "This is the first time I have something new - thank you" beamed a young Simphiwe as he shyly thanked me for his new clothes.
