When I was home a few weeks ago, I met up with a few friends from the South of Jo'burg, who went to the same Primary school as I did: - "Highveld Primary".
One of my friends who became a teacher and eventually was appointed principal of a private school in Linmeyer, but has now retired was telling me how she spends her days. She told me she volunteers at St. Mary's home. We always referred to it as an orphanage, but it wasn't really a place for orphans but for kids who's parents either could not afford to keep them or neglected them.
We all would have had a kid in our class who came from the home. At school they were not treated any different from what we were. In one of my posts I mentioned going to a disco on a Friday evening at the home. My mom who was a book keeper looked after the books for the home.
On our way to meet up with the friends at "Gino's in Robertsham", there were a few kids begging at the traffic lights, my friend said that often these kids would land up at the home as well. This made me happy to know that they had somewhere they could go to have a meal and a warm bed.
I vowed that when I got back I would give back to the community where I grew up in and will start with "St. Marys", I have often helped other people who have organized events in the South, however this one is close to my heart and wanted to share it with all of you. If you perhaps feel the same then please see if there is something you can do to help them as well.
https://stmaryschildrenshome.org.za/news
Interesting facts about St. Mary's - In one of my posts I spoke about the Anglo Boer War and how the Johannesburg Concentration Camp was at the Turffontein Racecourse. My friend said that after the end of the ABW they opened St. Mary's which is not far from the Turffontein Racecourse.
"St Mary’s Children’s Home has been operating since 1902. Their services include residential care to 54 children designated to them through the Children’s Court on account of the Child Care Act, for reasons which include abuse (mental, physical, emotional and sexual abuse) and / or neglect, being orphaned or some have been affected by HIV/ AIDS virus. They come to them from surrounding informal settlements and many can be seen as the poorest of the poor."
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