The Zenzeleni Community Centre was established as a centre for people in the community as a place to launch self-help projects.

So far there is a sewing group, a computer centre (now self-funding) and the Mphophomeni Tourism Board (also now self-funding, and so successful that they are building their own offices). The women who gather at the centre to sew in order to eke out an income, also go out into the community on a Friday, visiting and comforting the elderly, and volunteering to clean, wash, cook or do whatever is required.

I met Mrs Fakazile Mchunu by chance. And after chatting about this and that, discovered she has a particular interest in helping vulnerable children especially from child-headed households. So she and I both thought a cooked lunch would be of enormous benefit to these children.

The women who gather there to sew agreed to do the cooking. Mrs Mchunu approached a school administrator to select some children – she felt they were in the best position to identify the most vulnerable – and a week after our chance meeting the first lunch was served to 30 children! We cooked 3 times a week for 3 weeks and then the centre closed over Christmas, so we will start again early in January. In the New Year Mrs Mchunu will approach other schools, and she hopes that by then we will have the capacity to increase the number to 100 – 150. Whew!

Who knows where this will lead? And by the nature of the situation it will expand to not only child-headed households as the following examples will illustrate:

Fakazile was asked if two small children could come for lunch, aged 4 years and 11 months as their Mum had been beaten to death by her boyfriend. Their Grandmother was summoned to help but she has had a stroke and is partially paralysed down one side, so is struggling to say the least! The door was broken down in the attack and has been sort of mended by members from the centre to keep out the skebengers…. and the weather.

Fakazile was asked by the Hospice worker in Mphophomeni if 2 children, aged 12 and 8 could come for lunch as their Mum had died and their Dad was ‘very sick’ As they were leaving after lunch the elder child asked Fakazile if she had any nappies for their Dad, as he is obviously now so ill that he is incontinent, and these two children also have deal with nursing him. So now we are looking for nappies......

Fakazile Mchunu is a wonderfully warm, selfless motherly person, she wants to put a box out with pen and paper so those too shy to ask outright may have an opportunity to voice their needs. And I know that just by being there for them she engenders a feeling of caring and hope for all these kids which is itself such a huge benefit, never mind also having a full tummy.