Ekurhuleni East TVET College donates groceries and jackets to Tholakele Centre of Hope

Kwa-Thema – Ekurhuleni East TVET College donated groceries and 21 Drimac jackets at Tholakele Centre of Hope on October 3.

The centre, in the heart of Tsakani and Kwa-Thema, is a children’s home for orphaned and vulnerable children. It was registered in 2008 and provides care, shelter and protection to 30 children.

“Tholakele Centre of Hope was founded by Pastor Tholakele Matilda Tshabalala in 2005. As a teacher and community leader, she saw a desperate need to help orphaned and vulnerable children in her disadvantaged community.

“Her compassion and empathy are because of the knowledge that there is nothing more traumatic for a child than to witness their parent die.

“She believes children without proper adult care are more likely to be abused and exploited and was determined to find support to care for them while bridging this gap,” said centre social worker Nosisa Sotsaka.

She said the centre identified children who needed care and protection and the court and field social workers placed them under the centre’s care.

“We take of children who are between the ages of three to 21. As a centre, we have a lot of needs and are grateful for donations that constantly come to help us in different ways.

“We need food, funds for petrol, clothes, and maintenance costs to keep the place tidy as required by the Department of Social Development. Having stakeholders such as Ekurhuleni East TVET College reaching out to us with a helping hand means a lot to us,” she added.

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Sotsaka added many of their children who are in high school aspire to further their education at the TVET college, saying receiving a helping hand from the college will give the children hope to pursue their studies there.

College deputy principal, Mbengeni Nevhutana, said the purpose of their outreach is to assist the community in impactful ways while showing that they are a part of the community.

“We have to show our community that the college cares and shows we can assist wherever we can, even though we do not have much. The little we have, we are willing to share with the community,” said Nevhutana.

He added the donations were meant to make the children aware that the college exists, cares and is always willing to help where they can.

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