Telkom today awarded a donation of R340 000 to two of Pretoria`s homeless shelters, the Streetwise Leratong Home in Mamelodi East and the Itumeleng Shelter in Sunnyside, raised through the Telkom Charity Golf Day in Pecanwood Estate, near Hartebeespoort Dam. The homes provide a haven for street children between the ages of 6 and 16.
Molathlegi Mashishi, who runs the Leratong Home, was delighted: ``The financial assistance from Telkom and other corporate sponsors will help us reunite the downtrodden youngsters with their families, and allow us to allocate additional resources to rehabilitation and educational activities.``
Wezet Botes, the social worker at the Itumeleng Shelter, said: ``The additional resources will help sustain our night outreach programme where issues like HIV/AIDS, crime and surviving on the streets are discussed with the boys to create awareness and foster safe sex practices.``
The Leratong Home - which looks after 12 children - has worked with 113 children since 1990. They attend formal schools, are taught life skills and also encouraged to visit their families as part of the reconciliation process. Essau Mbatha, one of its blue-eyed boys, has won more than 150 medals and trophies in athletics, including representing SA in France. He is currently in the home`s aftercare programme.
The Pretoria Child and Family Care Society established Itumeleng in 1993 as a response to the growing number of children coming to the city because of adverse home circumstances. Over the past decade, the shelter has accommodated an average of 80 children per year. A total of 580 boys have been nurtured to date.
Telkom`s Chief Executive Officer Sizwe Nxasana played the first ball at the golf day, even though he is not really a golf enthusiast. Other Telkom executives, colleagues from Vodacom, Telkom`s mobile joint venture partner, as well as suppliers attended the event.
Said Nxasana: ``Telkom people are making efforts to support and elevate communities we live and work in. Telkom is putting its weight behind golf to help break the stigma of it being an elitist sport.
``There are many wonderful development golf players out there. Telkom is delighted that their work on the field can help also uplift street children by creating a circle of goodwill and equal opportunities for all.``
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