In the spirit of community and compassion, the Collen Mashawana Foundation and IDC joined forces to uplift vulnerable families in KwaZulu-Natal. They were gifted fully furnished homes, offering them a safe and comfortable space to finally heal and thrive.
Hammersdale, South Africa (20 November 2024) – Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it should also take that same village to care for our elderly.
These are the wise words of South African philanthropist Collen Mashawana. Through his foundation and in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), which shares his passion for helping the elderly in need, he has worked to provide an unmatched gift of comfort: new homes for them to call their own.
For Aron Mngadi, being the sole provider for his family of seven was a position he assumed due to unfortunate circumstances despite living with a disability in a mud house in Hammersdale, KwaZulu-Natal.
“Over the years, heavy rains weakened their home, leading to its collapse and leaving only one room habitable. This situation was compounded when Bab’Mngadi suffered a stroke, rendering him unable to speak and paralyzed on one side,” the Collen Mashawana Foundation (CMF) explains.
His nephew took over the responsibility of caring for him and supporting the family by selling chips and sweets.
After learning about their living conditions, CMF and IDC committed to building them a new home.
Friday, 15 November marked a new and emotional chapter for the family as a newly built and fully furnished two-bedroom home was handed over to Bab’Mngadi to share with his loved ones.
Also on the receiving end of a miracle in the form of four walls, was the Mbhele family. The Hammersdale family was displaced during the 2021 floods leaving 61-year-old matriarch Nelisiwe Ntombikayise Mbhele to care for her children and nine grandchildren under dire circumstances.
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With her adult children struggling to secure employment, the situation has strained their fragile family unit, forcing some members to seek shelter elsewhere.
When CMF and IDC met with them five weeks ago, they pledged to improve their living conditions.
“We have honoured that promise by providing them with a new, fully furnished home to help them rebuild their lives.”
Going above and beyond to make a difference in this family’s lives, the CMF has employed three of Ma’Mbhele’s daughters, allowing them to earn an income, while Ncanda Funerals generously donated a fridge and groceries to see them through the next three months.
Sources: Collen Mashawana Foundation
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