Social Work Student involved in Children’s Day event

BY: .

As part of International Children’s Day, final year Social Work student Ms Mandisa Mthembu joined forces with the Howard College Campus Sports Union to organise a fun-filled day for children from the Durban Children's Home and iCare Place of Safety.  

About 100 children between the ages of 12-18 years were invited from the two care centres to participate in fun games, to play sports on campus as well as enjoy a colour bomb festival. 

 ‘This outreach programme was arranged as I feel it is important to find time to give back to our community. Having a fun programme allowed the kids to have a day of fun and laughter and to feel better about life and themselves,’ said Mthembu. 

‘It’s a day set aside so that these kids feel loved and special and to make new friends. Being a part of this project is close to my heart, especially as a future social worker,’ said Mthembu.  

Children, who were motivated and encouraged to believe in themselves and to never lose hope, all received goodie bags. Sponsors included Kimberly-Clarks, the Holy Family High School which donated meals for the day and Childline-Durban, which distributed a 100 stationary packs. 

Streetwise for Street Kids - a youth-based initiative that serves meals to the homeless in and around Durban - also participated.  

‘The overall aim of this project was to give the kids a day out of their homes, to feel special and appreciated’ said Mthembu. 

Social Work lecturer Dr Tanusha Raniga said: ‘We are very proud when students play an active role beyond the academic programme to nurture community partnerships and contribute in a tangible way through an outreach programme to uplift the lives of children in our community.’ 

Prior to the event, donation boxes were set up at the Sports Union and the Social Work Department with students being encouraged to donate any item that would assist the Care Centres as winter approaches. These items were then presented to the Centres.  

Mthembu thanked the Social Work Department within the School of Applied Human Sciences for their support during the event.  

Melissa Mungroo