MURRAY & ROBERTS CHILD WELFARE FUND BENEFICIARY SITE VISIT

The Murray & Roberts Child Welfare Fund conducted their annual site visits in November 2018. The purpose of the visits was twofold, ie. a governance exercise to ensure correct appropriation of funding, and to meet and spend time with the children and their caregivers.

The first stop was the THATO KE MATLA CARE CENTRE, a three bedroomed home which provides a safe space for abandoned, abused and neglected children in the Orange Farm area. The centre was founded by Disebeo Lipholo, whose love for children and previous experience working at a hospice crèche caring for a young, abandoned child named Thato, inspired her to help other children in similar situations and who need a loving home.

The centre houses 40 children who are cared for by Disebo and assisted by volunteers from the community. This organisation does an incredible job, with minimal resources, in supporting many vulnerable children.




The next stop was IKAGENG ITERELENG AIDS MINISTRY, SOWETO where the committee was welcomed by Carol Dyantyi.Ikageng is a community-based organisation offering care for child-headed households and other vulnerable and orphanedchildren. Ikageng delivers social support through education,nutrition, health and psychosocial programmes to enable children to regain control over their lives and to grow up to be productive members of society. Says Carol, “All thechallenges we face as an organisation are made worthwhile when a child who has been told that they can never go to university or that they will never make a success of their life, graduates from university or finds employment.”




The final stop was the OCCUPATIONAL SPEECH AND THERAPY CENTRE AT SOUTH RAND HOSPITAL. Julia Anastasia and her team of therapists provide out-patient services to approximately 160 children who struggle with a range of conditions, disabilities and disorders. These children benefit from physical therapy and stimulation in the centre’s paediatric gym, which was refurbished and upgraded with the donation provided by the Murray & Roberts Child Welfare Fund.

Brenda Mantje, Murray & Roberts community development programme co-ordinator says, “The site visit is a humbling experience, our beneficiaries give their time, talent and what little resources they do have, in uplifting their communities and helping the most vulnerable in our society.”

The Murray & Roberts Child Welfare Fund golf day will be hosted at the Glendower Golf Club in Bedfordview on Friday, 10 May. The golf day, along with employee donations, is the primary means of raising funds. These funds are matched by the Murray & Roberts Letsema Scheme. Golf day sponsorship and four-ball bookings can be made with Lisa van der Linde at lisa.vanderlinde@murrob.com.

If you would like to get involved in the Murray & Roberts Child Welfare Fund’s activities, fundraising events and site visits, please email cdp@murrob.com. Please also consider making a small donation each month. Every donation, no matter how small, is valuable and appreciated.