Young people rally to help the hungry

Young people in Ezihlahleni near Dimbaza are helping to feed desperate families who cannot access food parcels.

Youth organisation Masakhane Zihlahleni has raised R17,000 to buy food for 30 families.

Spokesperson Noluvuyo Moko said most people living in the area had no source of income, and a number of people who were earning had lost jobs due to the lockdown.

“We were hoping that local municipalities and the department of social development would provide these families with food parcels, but that didn’t happen,” Moko said.

“We are a big village, from

Debe Nek to near Dimbaza.

“We are giving back to the community.

“We looked at the households that have no financial beneficiaries and those residents who have lost their jobs.”

Moko said hunger and poverty could lead to increased crime.

“We are trying to avoid this happening in our community.

“We received overwhelming feedback from people supporting us with contributions.

“We even got a donation all the way from Germany.”

Beneficiaries could not thank the youth enough for their efforts.

“I am so grateful for what the young people of our village are doing. When they saw that we are struggling to get essentials,

We are giving back to the community

they jumped in,” said Noluvo

Simetho.

Nokuzola Nqinileyoe said: “What the youth did for us is exceptionally heart-warming, I survived by being a street hawker so the lockdown was hard.

“I am thankful to the young people for being so considerate and thoughtful.”