On the 24th December 2009 Mbali Mahlangu, Moloko Ramohlale and Ngwako Ramohlale (Mbali’s friend and her sister) visited the New Jerusalem Children’s Home at 138 Steyn road in Midrand to deliver presents for the children. New Jerusalem Children’s home provides shelter and care to children who have been disadvantaged by society not through their own doing or wish. It is children who have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, HIV positive and other children who come from poverty stricken families. More information about the home may be found on www.newjerusalem.co.za .

On the 24th December 2009 Mbali Mahlangu, Moloko Ramohlale and Ngwako Ramohlale (Mbali’s friend and her sister) visited the New Jerusalem Children’s Home at 138 Steyn road in Midrand to deliver presents for the children. New Jerusalem Children’s home provides shelter and care to children who have been disadvantaged by society not through their own doing or wish. It is children who have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, HIV positive and other children who come from poverty stricken families. More information about the home may be found on www.newjerusalem.co.za.

Crickmay’s generous gesture of sponsoring R 5,000 to cover some of the children’s needs in the festive season will come a long way. A list of 86 children was provided and the plan was to get each child a new outfit for Christmas. With children normally, part of the excitement towards Christmas is aroused by the idea of being dressed in new clothes. There may have been a shift on adults over the years on buying Christmas clothes for their children, but this will always mark a magical moment especially for younger children. I see this with my son Mawande, each time there is a new item in his wardrobe, it would not matter whether he has had a bath or not, he just grabs it and want to put it on. As small as he is (now 1 year 9 months) he notices when something is new.

Getting a full outfit for each of the 86 children of different ages and sizes was not an easy task to accomplish. The shopping was started on the afternoon of the 22nd December 2009. I underestimated how a big job it is to pick items, get matching skirt/top/pants, the right age, the right size, etc. But as I did it I felt more connected to the children, it was like I was conversing with each child that I picked an item for. The shortfall though, was that I did not know each one of them well to be able to pick the exact item that would exude their personality. I had to hope that each child would like and appreciate their new clothes. My husband, niece (11yrs), friends and I spent almost 2 full days and long nights buying, wrapping and labeling each gift. There was a time on the 23rd Dec 2009 where the Crickmay Jhb office looked like the North Pole with clothes, wrappers and finished presents lying all over the floor. It was a lot of work which uniquely brought satisfaction and fulfillment. Moloko said “It was a pleasure to be able to give back; we always look for that opportunity to give back, I was grateful to be part of this”.

My friend also played a key role in assisting with the funds towards the presents; between Moloko and me we contributed R 2,800 to cover the rest of the kids’ presents. Giving is always an opportunity to enrich ones soul. Maya Angelou once said that “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver”.

ON THE 24TH DECEMBER 2009

Unfortunately when we went to the home, some of the grown up children had gone for an excursion and most of the little ones were sleeping as it was midday. But we managed to see most of the kids.

Some of the children inside the house:

One of the Day Mothers and the kids:

Presents distribution: (Left to right – Rorisang Ndlovu (PA to the CEO at the home, Ngwako & Moloko)

Little Chamuel Zulu (very lively little boy!):

Opening Presents:

Queuing to have clothes labeled:

REMARKS FROM THE HOME:

I contacted the home this year to find out if the kids liked their gifts. The report was that all the children were ecstatic, the clothes were repacked and put away; and on Christmas day everyone had something new to wear and they were over the moon. New Jerusalem was very grateful for this generous act from Crickmay & Associates.

May your barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses burst out with new wine Proverbs 3:10