Cup volunteers donate vouchers to kids

In an attempt to give back to the community, 22 Port Elizabeth World Cup volunteers decided to give up their last meal vouchers and donate food parcels to the Sinethemba Children’s Care Centre in Korsten instead.

The volunteers – from Ghana, Argentina, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Germany, Cameroon and South Africa – visited the orphanage yesterday to hand over food parcels, baby toiletries and medicines.

The meal vouchers put together came to almost R2000 in groceries, medicines and baby essentials like nappies and baby wipes.

Napoleon Tei, from Ghana, said giving back to the community seemed only fair, since they wanted to leave a mark while they were still in the country.

“We came all the way from our countries to volunteer for Fifa, so why can’t we do our bit to lend a hand where we can while we are still in South Africa?”

“One of my colleagues, Justice Gordon, actually came up with the idea. We approached some of the guys and those who were able to help, made their valuable contributions.”

Tei said the group had approached the orphanage about two weeks ago and could not help but get back to the centre after co-ordinator Signoria Qolani told them that a bit of assistance here and there would really go a long way.

Qolani said the centre received assistance from various sources, but most of the time the donations were not enough to cover all the children’s needs.

“It is not very often that donations come in the form of baby foods or nappies. I went with the volunteers to the shop and got all the stuff the children needed.”

Qolani said the donation would make a huge difference at the centre.

The orphanage has been in operation for 10 years and houses HIV-positive orphans and abused, abandoned and homeless children.

(This story is courtesy of The Herald. Used with permission.)