The total of 31
OVC received school uniform each comprised of
jersey, shirt, trouser, shoes and socks while
girls received skirt or dress with other items.
These OVC are drawn from 16 families whom all
received food packages include maize mill
12.5kg, beans 2kg, salt 1kg, tin fish x 4,
cooking oil 2litres, washing powder, bath soap x
4, packet of candles and matches, shoe polish
and brush as well as tooth paste and tooth
brush.
In his speech, the Deputy National Coordinator
of GFCU Mr. Mokhothu Makhalanyane said due to
HIV and AIDS some parents have died and left
their children as orphans. He said the number of
orphans is increasing and AIDS countinue to
claim lives of both children and adults.
He said it is the responsibility of all people
to join hands towards mitigating the impact of
HIV especially to Children/OVC by providing care
and support especially in their future
education.
“Today GFCU is here to donate school uniform and
provide food package to OVC and their families
in order to support children’s education as
education is a key to their future,” he added.
He appealed to all children to take this
opportunity of education support from Government
Free primary education and OVC secondary bursary
program to work hard in their studies in order
to earn a decent living and break the poverty
circles in the families.
CAption: OVC guardian received
food package for OVC families.
A Red Cross Care
Giver Ms. Mamolefe Mapetla thanked GFCU for the
gift of uniform and food for OVC adding that
there are many other needy orphans in their
council whom did not receive help today and
appealed to the GFCU to return in future to
cover those who were left out. She called on
children that received uniform to be motivated
to study hard in order to encourage other people
to help them and other children in future.
One of the guardians, Mrs. ‘Mamaleke Maleke
thanked GFCU for remembering their children at
Mokema. She said it is not GFCU but it is God
who remembered them through the help of GFCU.
“It is not easy to care for young OVC especially
for unemployed granny like myself but through
God’s help we try our best to provide what we
can afford. Therefore we have no enough words to
express our appreciation to this support,” she
added
Chief of the Village, Chief Maama thanked the
office on behalf of all families that benefited
today. He said when GFCU approached him with the
vision of helping OVC with uniform he did not
think it will be realized very soon.
The hand-over ceremony of uniform and food
packages was graced by songs from the children
and care givers.
As part of social responsibility, GFCU donates
something to Orphans and Vulnerable Children
annually as part of supporting needy children.
In 2010 the GFCU helped children at Kananelo
center for the deaf while in 2009 they donated
uniform and garden tools to OVC at Ha
Ramashilika in Nazeretha in Maseru district and
2008 they helped beautiful gate’s children.
