Launch of the COVID-19 Prevention and Community Relief Project in the Tshepisong Township.

Dear All!
The COVID-19 Pandemic, continues to spread rapidly in South Africa and within our communities, which are facing a lot of challenges in this fourth wave of the new Omicron Variant.

The launch of this project was on the 20th of December 2021 at the Raymond Mhlaba High School, Phase 1, where we were able to assist and touch the lives of 105 families, by teaching them of being aware of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are facing and how to take all the precautions of preventing its spread.

We were able to provide food humpers, sanitary supplies and PPEs to them. Most of these are People with Disabilities, Co-morbidities,  Elderly and Senior Citizens, Girls, Women and Children, especially those Infected and Affected with HIV/AIDS, including the LGBTIQA+ Communities as these are always being left behind. Since the beginning of this Pandemic according to our research, due to Rejection, Stigmatization and Discrimination in the Tshepisong Township and a lot of other places in South Africa, and indeed all over the globe the LGBTIQA+ communities are being left behind ( see photos and videos).

With the discovery of this new Omicron Variant, which is spreading faster than the first wave, the second wave and the Delta Variant of the third wave, the need for resources and financial support is still very very high to help address most of the challenges the communities are facing.

The economy is gloomy and under the shadow of lockdowns which can be announced anytime, most of the small businesses were wiped away by the hard lockdown and the subsequent Level 3 and 4 Lockdowns. People are still struggling to make ends meet, food is scarce and bills are piling. But there is hope, the Power of Women and Children has launched a programme where we are going to be training people on how to protect themselves from the ravages of corona virus, using simple home made PPEs, reminding them on sanitizing as well as washing hands. We are also looking to partner with organisations that can bring relief to some of the most disadvantaged in the communities we operate. That is in form of food hampers to supplement the government social grants.

We want to thank the BESTSELLER FOUNDATION and all its team, for the support provided in Partnering with The Power of Women and Children, in helping the communities of the Tshepisong Township/ West of Johannesburg, in Coping with this Pandemic, by raising awareness and getting access to basic services which included hampers and the training programme of the launch.

The Angel Network and South African Jewish Board of Deputies came on board and provided the extra budget for the food which allowed us to provide food and refreshments for the more than 105 people who attended the event. Without this support, the event could not have been so successful.

Earlier along the  Adventist AIDS International Ministries had provided the groceries while Africa Food for Thought  provided beautiful gifts for the children in the Orphanage, the smiles on their faces told it all!. This went a long way in brightening the gloomy Covid-19 2021 x-mas season.

The year could not have been complete without the continued support of Meals on Wheels who have continuously without fail supported us with groceries for the orphanage throughout the year.

We also want to thank the Principal and the School Governing Board of Raymond Mhlaba Secondary School for giving access to the school Parade where we were able to launch the event. With this kind of support, indeed we see that the project has been accepted by the community and that is a measure of the success that we want to see.

To all our donors including C.O.N.E.C.K.T, an organisation which blessed us with furniture for the soon to be launched Secretariat, the volunteers, young men and young girls who used their time to refresh the people, the camera crew (I am talking of you Mr. Sango and Mr. James), Mr. Xolani, Ms Mandosa, Teacher Ndlovu, Mama Irene, Mama Lamulile & Mama Fikiri and their entire Crew at Ithemba la Bantwana, Joseph the Webmaster, Ms Rebecca Laurette the Secretary of PWC and every man and woman who  helped in one way or another to make the occassion a success, we just want to say, “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace… Peace which surpasses all human understanding” Amen.

From all of us in  the PoWC Secretariat, we wish you all a very blessed festive season and a happy new year!

With Love and Gratitude!

Tom Fikiri Masarara
PWC Liaison Officer
4144 Buzzard Street Phase 1, Tshepisong
Roodepoort 1725
West Rand
Gauteng
South Africa
Cell: +27 76 805 5896
Mail: tom@pofwc.org.za
Web: https://www.pofwc.org.za

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