Sally- February 2006

This morning, I was having a working coffee with a colleague at eVida Cafe in Greenside, and was thinking about the money, burning a hole in my wallet, from our DOM meeting. Across the road, a woman sat on an old crate, a towel wrapped around her waist, and selling single cigrarettes, knick-knacks in plastic bags and little sweets.

She seemed to be doing okay - there arelots of constuction workers in the area, stopping to buy singles and sweet. I went across the road and introduced myself, told her about DOM … but she didn’t speak English, only a little Afrikaans. So a client – a construction worker from across the road who came to buy a cigarette – helped out. Her name is Monica Kgaphola, she has four kids – none of whom are employed. She lives in Greenside but came from the Northern Province about 8 years ago. She makes money by setting up shop near construction sites. She looks to be about in her fourties.

She was a bit shocked – kept asking me “Mahala??”while counted the money…. Asked me again, then asked me if Im from the church. I said no, that we just want to help people. Felt really really good to walk away from her, and i had a grin on my face for the rest of the day :-)

Next meeting is Friday the 31, and Renee is the giver!

Claire's turn January 2006

I donated R1800 on behalf of DOM to Ethembeni Children's Home in Doornfontein. Ethembeni - which means "Place of Hope" in Xhosa - has capacity for up to 60 children, presently they are looking after 55 kids. The children are all under theage of three, who have been abandoned, are HIV-positive or have full-blown Aids. From the home they are either placed in foster care, adopted or once they reach three moved to another children's institution who can care for older children. They will be using the money to buy baby food and nappies.
(Photo Greame Williams - we hope he wont mind)