The Garaletsang Children’s Home in Lotus Gardens in Tshwane has been given a wonderful gift that will ensure the 28 children in their care have a comfortable winter.
Johannesburg, South Africa (17 June 2021) – The Garaletsang Children’s Home in Lotus Gardens in Tshwane has received a wonderful donation to help get them through the winter. The home is a safe space for 28 children who need temporary shelter.
The Garaletsang Children’s Home was founded a few years ago when a couple saw how many small children in their impoverished community were left home alone during the day.
The parents do not have the means to pay for daycare – in some instances, older siblings are left to look after the little ones and have to leave them home while they go to school. The children are also left without food – sometimes for more than a day. The couple had heard about a young girl who was ill because she ate her parents ARV tablets out of sheer desperation. They quickly stepped in to make sure that never happened again.
The Garaletsang Children’s Home started as a daycare at their home for these children – without funding or expectation to be paid. News about this spread in the community, and some children were left at their daycare for good. The daycare turned into permanent care, so they added some structures to their shack.
Using several shacks, they now care for 28 abandoned and orphaned children.
DJ Lamiez visited the Garaletsang Home after hearing of their work and that they were struggling to get by without funding. She was very touched by their intention to give shelter to destitute children of the community where she came from but also distraught to see the conditions they were living in.
DJ Lamiez, together with her husband, well-known rapper, Khuli Chana committed to helping Garaletsang raise funds and improve their living conditions.
They have had plans drawn up to build a proper home with bathroom facilities and space for all 28 children. They are awaiting re-zoning permits from the City Council and will fund the building project themselves. They’ve also arranged for the children to be moved to a cricket hall in Atteridgeville in the meantime.
With winter fast approaching, DJ Lamiez asked for assistance with 20 bunk beds and mattresses, as the children are sharing four double beds and some are sleeping on the floor. She hopes to at least provide them with warm, comfortable beds while they wait for their new home to be built.
The Good Morning Angels jumped on board to help DJ Lamiez and Khuli Chana. By hosting them on the morning show, they were able to bring together several donors to help the children get through winter comfortably.
The Angels at Lotters Pine donated 20 bunk beds and 40 mattresses for the children of Garaletsang Home – They delivered the beds on Youth Day. Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels also assisted with R35 000 from the Good Morning Angels Fund for day-to-day necessities for the children.
Other donors have donated warm bedding to go along with the new beds, warm meals, treats for the carers and funds to help with building the new home. The South Lions Club, represented by Clint Guthrie, donated 40 sets of brand new bed linen, including duvets and covers, blankets, bedsheets, pillows and pillowcases in both boys and girls designs.
Jacques Pienaar representing Buco Hardware and their suppliers, also shared some amazing news with the team. Buco Hardware and its suppliers will donate building material worth R250 000 to help DJ Lamiez with the construction of the new, permanent Garaletsang Home.
Through collaboration, these young lives and many more, will benefit from the changes to come!
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