large text
regular text
Article by Pholisa Hashe
Joyful noise of praise and songs from the King William’s Town Youth and Child Care Center welcomed the delegates from the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) on Tuesday, October 13, 2008 during the handing over of R22 474.60 to the center by Macmillan South Africa.
The Honourable MEC of the ECDoE Mahlubandile Qwase expressed words of appreciation on behalf of the ECDoE to Macmillan for their initiative and contribution to the needy.
”We are born for a reason, we must make a difference wherever we are,” he said.
“I would like to also thank the teachers and the care givers of the institution for the love they give to the children”.
MEC Qwase said that it is a good coincidence that this event was held during October, which happens to be National Teachers’ Month. He encouraged Macmillan to continue with their work and wished that they would do more for others in similar situations.
He said that no single stakeholder could single handedly shoulder the problems that the ECDoE was facing.
“This needs to be a joint venture and collaboration between the department and other stakeholders,” he said.
Present at the event were delegates from Macmillan South Africa, Managing Director Steve Cilliers, Marketing Director, Christina Watson and Publishing Director, Michael Goodman.
In her opening remarks, Superintendent General of ECDoE, Nolamli Mahanjana, said that this was one of the days that she got emotional. She continued to say that life was about opening up opportunities for others to be the best that they could be.
“The most important thing to us is our children whom we love more than anything in the world,” said Mahanjana.
The SG thanked Honourable MEC for carrying on with the project that the department had started with the former MEC. She then thanked Macmillan South Africa for their sacrifice and making the lives of the children to be the same as those of other children.
“What we are about today is not money, what this is about is the heart,” she said.
Mahanjana gave words of encouragement to the children saying that “No matter what you have done, you are worthy of love and doors will be opened for you”. She said most of the leaders come from difficult backgrounds and made an example about Ophra Winfrey.
“Success is not determined by your environment, it is in your mind. You are the source of your own success,” she said.
Ms Class spoke on behalf of Macmillan South Africa said she was moved and emotional by what she had seen.
In 2006 when the implementation of the Grade 8 – 9 Curriculum , Macmillan South Africa donated 10 cents for every book that was sold to the Care Center.
She went on to thank Chris Mangcu from the ECDoE Leaner Support Material for his commitment to work for children. The school principal Heather Scheiber thanked the ECDoE for the development of the project.
“We are honoured by the generosity of Macmillan South. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to them for keeping us in their minds because without their assistance we would not be able to provide a home for these children,” said Schreiber.
MEC concluded by encouraging the children and said they must work to change their situations and the situations of their homes. He gave them words of wisdom and said that respect for people young and old will earn them respect in return.
“Go to school, take care of yourself, do not fall into traps of teenage pregnancy and HIV&AIDS,” MEC said. “We do not want to see you destroying yourselves because you are the leaders of tomorrow and we will support you all the way.”
Article Tags: hands over, presentation
Previous page
Print
Email
Favourites
Export to PDF
Customer Care