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Facepainting, free haircuts, jumping castles and lots of treats were part of the fun festivities the children of the Abraham Kriel Family Childcare were spoilt with for Mandela Day.
For these children, it was a double festivity as the organisation celebrated a decade of changing the lives of children affected by HIV/AIDS through the Abraham Kriel
Family Care programme in the Westbury community of Johannesburg.
“Most of them come from really disadvantaged backgrounds and very rarely have someone to spoil them. I don’t really believe in spoiling children but sometimes it’s good,” said Hilda du Toit, the marketing manager.
The organisation has been around since 1912 and has locations around Johannesburg comprising of two children’s homes, seven group homes, four HIV/AIDS community programmes, a skills development centre and an early childhood development centre.
The Westbury programme currently has 165 children who are beneficiaries.
Du Toit said it was great for the anniversary to coincide with Mandela Month as his spirit was embodied in the work they do.
“Everyone knows the love that Mandela had for children,” she said.
Du Toit said having communities come together for change is important and all people should give the little they have.
“It’s about what you can do to bring about happiness to anyone,” she said.
Some of the companies that took part in the celebrations were first-time visitors of the organisation but Du Toit said in the twenty years that she’s been with the organisation, she finds that after people visit the first time they usually come back to stay.
As delegates attend the International Aids Conference in Durban, Du Toit said an important way to change stigma is education.
“It’s necesary for people to get more knowledgeable and to educate themselves. We work with organisations that are very good with that. In Westbury there has been more acceptance as we educate more people,” she said.
