On 12 December, a group of excited volunteers from the EOH head office, based in Bedfordview, descended on the Katlehong Kids Club bearing gifts, sweets and "Father Christmas" in tow.
The Katlehong Kids Club, run by the Salvation Army, caters for approximately 120 children ranging in age from six months to 14 years. During the morning, the caregivers at the Katlehong Kids Club look after the children under five. They do a sterling job, encouraging them to read and to enjoy playful interaction. In the afternoon, 40 to 50 school-going children join the young ones to make use of the Kids Club's day care facility.
Against all odds, the Katlehong Kids Club manages to ensure that every child receives two meals a day, cooked by the passionate staff, in a very small, poorly equipped kitchen.
According to Asher Bohbot, CEO of EOH: "The meals have proven to be integral parts of the day as many of the children, specifically the orphans, often do not receive one square meal a week, let alone a day, at home."
The Christmas party was the culmination of a year of support offered to the Katlehong Kids Club by EOH. The majority of EOH's Gauteng-based staff members who could not attend the party in Katlehong donated monies that were used to purchase gift hampers containing essential groceries. In addition, EOH provided each child with a Pep Stores gift voucher to be spent on school clothing for the new year and Pep Stores donated a brand new refrigerator. The gift of the refrigerator was very well received because the anti-retroviral medication, that some of the HIV+ children require, needs to be refrigerated.
"The Christmas party was a huge success and judging by the smiles and laughter, the kids thought so too," said Bohbot. "Being given the opportunity to help make Christmas 2006 just a bit more special for each of the children, who enjoyed the day with us, was a great honour."
For more information on EOH's commitment to corporate social investment, please contact Carla Sanderson on (011) 607 8100 or e-mail carla.sanderson@eoh.co.za.
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