Supporting rural orphans
The support group assists young peope with various problems they face daily
FOR the past 10 years retired teacher Sonia McCann from England has been providing hot meals, clothing, education fees and a support system for hundreds of eSikhaleni orphaned children through her group Vulnerable Children in Need of Education (Vine).
The support group assists young people with the various problems they face daily and provides them with financial support.
‘It has always been my dream to help South African children in need of education, and now that I am retired, I can live my dream,’ says McCann.
She says the group has become stronger and is now able to assist pupils to register for higher education at various tertiary institutions.
‘There is nothing I love more than to see these young people being educated.
‘Even back home in England I raise funds and ask my friends to come along and lend a hand,’ McCann says.
University of Zululand transport management student and Vine member Phumlani Gumede, says he will never forget how happy he was when he heard he could go to university.
‘I never thought it would be possible, but through the Vine project, a miracle happened.’
Italian-based Barbara Curtis also visited the Vine team and said she has started her own campaign under the Giuseppe Orsining group to assist orphans in attaining a higher education.
The campaign is named after her late husband who died of a brain tumour.
