Arms of love for impoverished communities

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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - A local non-profit organisation, Arms of Love, whose mission it is to address the basic needs of the poor in the informal settlements in and around George, reached out to the Syferfontein community near Pacaltsdorp on Monday 26 December.

The event was meant to be held on Christmas day, but due to the rain it was simply not possible.

“In our hearts there is a tremendous compassion for the community at Syferfontein. There is a small early development centre called High Hopes, that we have come alongside to try and make a difference. We are however so conscious of the children that are not fortunate enough to go to the crèche and we always want to include them in everything we do,” said the organisations Mara Coetsee.

Along with local singer Michael Lindt and his wife Marlize, members from the Kruiskerk church and their families and friends, they handed out more than 450 party packs and about 150 Bibles.

“With much dancing and singing there was great happiness among the community. The children, who love the interaction, were overjoyed. One of our friends bought 30 rugby and soccer balls and handed them out to the older boys. They were in their element,” said Coetsee.

Nothing like a sweet treat for Christmas.

The organisation also hosted a Christmas party for the children at High Hopes earlier this month.

VIDEO: Supplied

“One of the things that truly touched me, is that on the same day nurses from the Department of Health were there as part of the Integrated Nutrition Programme checking and weighing the malnourished children that had been placed there by the national clinics as part of the growth monitoring programme. There is a need in this community for the crèche and for them to enlarge their reach,” says Coetsee.

When Arms of Love first assisted High Hopes, there was no fence and the children had to stay in a corrugated iron structure all day.

“It was hot and unpleasant. We managed to secure funding from two generous donors, one in Johannesburg and the other in Cape Town, to erect a 130m fence. We labour on and trust God that He will provide funding for grass, play equipment, remuneration for the teachers, two container classrooms and a kitchen as food is prepared offsite and transported with public transport daily.

The elated children were singing and dancing.

"There is an incredible need in the informal settlement communities, however in the midst of the need, good Samaritans rise up in these communities and labour in love to make a daily difference to the lives of those most at need – the children. These good Samaritans are local heroes who run crèche’s and feeding schemes,” says Coetsee.