Major changes for orphan support Christmas event
This year, founder Kate Bain says that the vision of the event has been adapted from a 'hand out' event, to a 'hand up' one
THE Izulu Orphan Projects (IOP) Christmas party is an event that Zululanders have always supported through both their volunteer efforts and monetary donations.
This year, however, founder Kate Bain says that the vision of the event has been adapted from a ‘hand out’ event, to a ‘hand up’ one.
Focused on uplifting widows and orphans affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic, Kate and the Bain family have seen a recent change in the poverty influences in the area, and are making a deliberate change towards improving their futures by enabling them to change their own lives.
The organisation, based at two support centres outside Empangeni, has since it was founded in 2001, been the only source of food (through the daily feeding programme), social grant support, medical assistance, spiritual nourishment and home building to a community of thousands.
Their primary focus has been ensuring the young children in the Mevamphope area – around 2300 registered IOP children in over 700 families – are educated, to improve their futures.
The IOP Christmas party is an event that is always attended by hundreds of volunteers from churches and support groups from as far afield in Durban, who assist in making food and providing Christmas gift parcels for the widows and children, which are handed out over two days from the IOP support centres.
It is, in short, a massive event.
But this year, Kate says that they are going to be focusing on essential, life-changing supplies, and moving away from handing out toys to children who are in need of basic home care supplies.
‘We want to give ‘our’ children and their gogos their greatest needs – mainly their stationery for the school year, and a strong school bag. We will not be giving them the extra present as in previous years.’
Instead, she said, they will be focusing their fund-raising efforts in the run-up to the party, on obtaining donations of items for home care packages.
‘We are also encouraging the members of the community to act as volunteers themselves at the event, so that they can be a part of this show of love,’ she said.
‘That means that for the first time in many years, we will not be needing friends of IOP to volunteer at the event, which is a major change for us.
‘I believe that these are necessary steps towards the real impact of change,’ she said.
She expressed thanks to those friends of IOP who have annually travelled to Zululand and from their homes in Empangeni and Richards Bay and dedicated their time to ensuring the IOP orphans have a successful school year.
Assistance
Those who wish to contribute to the home care packages being distributed at the event, which is being held on Saturday, 9 December, are asked to please focus on the following non-perishable items – soap, socks, toothbrushes/toothpaste, towels, facecloths, washing powder (hand wash), sanitary pads, toilet paper, shoe polish, combs, towelling nappies, clothing and blankets.
Financial donations, with the reference ‘Christmas’ can be made to Izulu Orphan Projects (Non Profit), FNB Empangeni, cheque account number 62094657908, branch Code, 220130 BIC/swift address FIRNZAJJXXX.
Donations can also be delivered to the Empangeni Christian School.
For more information on the many educational and home support programmes run by IOP, please visit their website izuluorphanprojects.co.za, or call Kate directly on 083 6499990.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
