Byline: Levhuwani Matumba
Highveld Environmental Development Networking Alliance (HEDNA) in partnership with Greenpeace Africa donated food parcels to fifty (50) families in Embalenhle.
“Even though our focus is on the environment, we could not turn a blind eye on the lockdown effects since some of the people lost their jobs during the pandemic.
The donations you receive today comes from the Greenpeace and what we did as HEDNA was to identify the needy families at Ext 25 and 26,” said Mr Ntokozo Mthembu welcoming all the beneficiaries.
He also used the platform to educate them on the importance of keeping the area they live in clean.
“We also encourage you to use the available space in your yards to plant vegetables.
The plastics and papers we throw away pollute our area,” Added Mr Mthembu.
The Chairman of the HEDNA, Ms Sibongile Maziya urged the women to take part in the organization to learn more about protecting the environment.
“We have programmes and projects that take place within our community, I encourage you to take part and also bring your children so that they can learn more about preserving the nature and looking after the environment,” added Ms Maziya.
One of the beneficiaries could not stop thanking the organization.
“I do not know what to do or say to the organization.
Its like they did see that I do not have food in my house.
I will go and share with another family which is also starving,” said the woman who further appreciated the sanitary towels she received for her daughters.
The Mapishoane family also benefited from the donations.
Hlalefo Mapishoane (13) was electrocuted by the electricity in 2018 and his family is struggling to make ends meet because of the transportation costs to the hospital every week.
His parents are also not employed.
The Mapishoane family thanked Hedna for the donation.
Hlalefo also requested to be taken out of the house so that he can meet the people who donated food parcels to his family.