SOCIAL UNREST...OUR INTERVENTION

Gift oftheGivers embarkedon massive food parceldelivery campaign, taking supplies toseriously affectedareas fordistribution- especially in terms of thoseunabletospend exhaustive timein queues,being theelderlyandinfirm, medicalandemergencyfront-line staff.Theorganisationinitially prioritised old age homes,orphanages and othersimilar institutions, andtheirstaff,as recipients forsupplies.

Taking a longer-term view,Gift ofthe Givers also developed a plan toassist families whose breadwinners losttheir jobs as a resultofthe destructionof the businesses which employed themin Durban,Pietermaritzburg and many similarly affectedareasacrossKwaZulu-Natal.

In addition, theorganisation swiftly engagedwithmedicalassociations to devise plans toassist themget backupandrunning,giventheessentialstatus oftheirservices.

Many family-ownedmicroandsmallbusinesses weredestroyedleaving owners - many withoutinsuranceuponwhichtorely - tofaceenormouslevels ofdebtgiven thepandemic - and,now,noincome.Accordingly,Gift oftheGivers began identifying microandsmallbusinessesrequiring assistancein theformofcash and supply chain support,as a meansofhelping torebuild andre-establish brokenenterprises.

CRIPPLING ACTION-CONTEXT

Actions ofthefew:Therecentpublic disorderin KwaZulu-NatalandGauteng had theeffectoferoding racerelations,glorifying looting,destroyinglivelihoods, putting in perilhundreds ofthousands ofjobs,denyinghealth-careworkers access toneedypatients,robbing babies offormula milk andpreventingaccess by theelderly, infirm,physically challenged - andordinary peoplefromallwalks oflife - tobasic foods andmedicalsupplies.Emergency services - medical,fire andpolice-werecrippledbythelackoffuelandseverelyillCOVID-19patients weredenied access tovitalmedicalfacilities.

Social activism: But,this is SouthAfrica...a nationsteepedin a senseof Ubuntu,resilience,heartandethics.SouthAfrica’s peoplerefusedtoallowtheir communitiestobetornapart,ortogive upacountrywhichhascomesofar since the1994 dawnofdemocracy.

ThepeopleofSouthAfrica stood up,stoodfirm.Socialactivismand civic responsibility triumphed,withcitizens bandingtogethertoprotect,defend and unify ourcommunities ata timewhenourGovernmentand leadershipfailed spectacularly. Taxibodies,community organisations, responsibleleaders and rationalthinkersmadetheirvoices heardand thepeople- Black,White,Coloured and Indian,localorforeign- rallied,uniting morestrongly than everbefore.

GIFTOFTHEGIVERS- OURINTERVENTION

Responding tothecrisis and in spite ofsafe mobilityconcerns, Gift oftheGivers respondedswiftly,putits entiredisaster reliefmachinery intoaction.

Lootingandriotingcompoundedan already serioushungerproblemin many disadvantaged communities,theconsequenceoftheCOVID-19 pandemic and associatedrestrictions.

With Pietermaritzburg andDurbanbeing hometomajorsuppliers offoodand otheritems,manyareas becametotally cut-off,theresult oftheburningof trucks, highwayclosures,thedestructionofshops,warehousesandattendant fuelshortages, allofwhichprevented manyfromaccessing essentialfood supplies.

Howtodonate

GiftoftheGiverswas -and is- committed toassisting in relievingthepain and suffering ofthoseaffected bythis socialdisorderandwouldwelcomeany donationsin ordertomakeourinterventions allthemoretelling.

Todonateonline,goto:https://giftofthegivers.org/make-a-difference/ and donateusing anyoneoftheoptions provided.

For EFTdonations:Gift oftheGivers Foundation,Account number: 052137228, Bank:Standard Bank,Branch:Pietermaritzburg,South Africa, Branch Code:057525.

Telephone: 0800 786 911,+27 (0)33 345 0163,+27 (0)33 345 0175

Address:290 PrinceAlfredStreet,Pietermaritzburg, 3200

Website:www.giftofthegivers.org

Email:info@giftofthegivers.org

NPO: 032-031

More than one quarter of children below the age of 18 are not living with their parents ,as confirmed by the MICS 2014 figure of 26.6%.

Among these children, the majority have been abandoned by their parents or orphaned. Sadly, there are orphaned children who are even omitted by these statistics.

Who counts those who live on the streets, in landfills and sewage systems? There are a staggering number of orphan children in Zimbabwe and as No Child Left unclothed it is our responsibility to take good care of these children and make them feel loved.

No Child Left Unclothed is a youth-led organization with college students from Zimbabwe, China and Ukraine. It focuses on the orphaned child and is dedicated to create a world where every child knows love and care. Zimbabwe Community News which is chaired by Nigel M.K Chanakira and Albert Masaka, realised this and honored No Child Left Unclothed with the youth philanthropy award 2 years in a roll.

The World Health Organization states that every child has a right to parental care, but orphaned children do not have it, they have been marginalized in the community and the gap is visible.

The sense of impermanency and shortage of resources make it hard for orphans to trust people. Despite being surrounded by people all the time, they feel lonely and disconnected. They learn they can only count on themselves, so we as No Child Left Unclothed, we strive to improve the lives of orphans by being there emotionally and physically.

Additionally, the loss of a parent gives rise to emotional distress. The orphans are susceptible to long-term psychological problems including depression , anger, anxiety, and sadness, and are inclined to withdraw and self-isolate.

As No child we are there to give emotional support to such by spending time with them playing , converse and also discuss various aspects of life. A visit to an orphanage is a life-changing experience as it is filled with emotions and sentiments.

When we visit homes, we start the day with breakfast with all the children, we cook for them and learn about their interests.

Having visited several homes we have realized that sometimes all they need is our presence and time and with that they will be fulfilled.

As No child as much as we cloth them physically we also make sure that the emotions are addressed.

Article by Shantel Nyaumwe Junior Writer

For more informationon

Together, we can build a capable, ethical developmental South Africa.