Dumpsite dwellers’ Christmas gift
Port Alfred woman’s NGO A Call for Change distributes clothing to those in need
Giving hope to the neediest of people, A Call for Change in Port Alfred, led by founder Somila Sikhundla and volunteers Jennita Gongota and Anesipho Nomatyenge, visited people who scavenge at the dumpsite at Christmas to donate clothes.
Old and young people had something to smile about when they received something unexpected on Christmas day.
Sikhundla, a 2020 matriculant at Kuyasa Combined School, explained how the idea of donating clothes to the dumpsite dwellers had started.
“It all star ted on November 17 2019 on my birthaday when I decided to take my clothes to the needy at the dumpsite, and I saw how people were happy to receive the small things I gave them.
“I then decided to work with them by collecting clothing around Port Alfred and giving it to them,” she said.
Seeing the response she got from the recipients, Sikhundla said she immediately started her non-profit organisation, focusing on collecting clothes from the good Samaritans of Port Alfred.
Sikhundla said she had been giving clothes to the dumpsite dwellers twice a year, but was hoping to visit them more often this year.
Speaking about how she managed to collect the clothes, she said: “I wrote posters on my Facebook asking people around Port Alfred to give us the clothes that they did not need. Good Samaritans responded very well, giving me their addresses to come and collect clothes.”
She said she had focused on the dumpsite dwellers because she wanted to do something unique. “People do not check up on those people so I am trying to change that mindset. People should know a dump site is like a kasi (township) to the needy, but you will know that once you visit them”.
Sikhundla heaped praised on her volunteers Gongota and Nomatyenge, who helped her distribute the clothing on Christmas day. She also extended her appreciation to everyone who had donated clothing.
She said she had noticed a need for masks, and she is appealing for public support.
For any kind of support, Sikhundla can be contacted at 066-334-8848 and on Facebook as Sikhundla Somila.