Eskom lights up the lives of orphans!
Nie Cele
Orphans and staff in Pomeroy KZN.
Lightened up…Doctors for Life Centre members sharing a smile with guests in Pomeroy, KZN. The tour was to inculcate awareness on the projects Eskom is championing countrywide.
The Eskom Development Foundation has joined forces with Doctors for Life in an attempt to alleviate poverty in disadvantaged communities.
In one of their Outreach Programmes, 25 homeless orphans, raped and abused members of the (Doctors for Life Centre) have been provided with shelter, food, electricity and a new lease of life in Pomeroy, a rural area in the far-flung KwaZulu-Natal.
Some of these children who have been deprived parental care since tender age are getting love, care and a five star treatment that makes them refuse visiting their relatives during school holidays. Others are still trying to get to grips with the reasons why their parents abandoned them.
Khumbulani Khoza, a Grade 11 boy, twiddling his fingers as a sign of “desperation” told this reporter that his main wish was to find out why his parents had dumped him.
“I wish I could meet them, and ask why they deserted me?” he asked poignantly, before engaging in a mini soccer match with some members of the press.
Nombuso Majozi, a third year student teaching student, in her own words said: “I hope to bring up and teach dozens of orphans since I am a victim of this scourge”.
Moses Hlatshwayo, Eskom’s CSI project manager, said, the foundation was answering a goodwill call by assisting these communities.
“We are trying to meaningfully participate in the economy of the country in various corporate social investment activities.”
Johan Claassen, Doctors for Life representative, said this was one of the shelters out of many in KZN his organization was involved in.
He urged other organizations to come on board.
“They are missing something meaningful in getting involved in such projects.
We are trying to give these children a good future and proper upbringing,” says Claasen, who is not a Doctor.
Did you know?
Eskom is not simply committed to keep the lights on. They are also focused on lighting up the lives of people across the country.
Anybody who is not a medical doctor can join and become friends of Doctors for Life.
