Every Child Needs Love Make a Difference in One Child’s Life This Christmas

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WORDS Mandy Jorna

It’s December. The festive season is in full swing, the malls are filled with gifts and people are visiting family and friends. The Christmas spirit is everywhere in Cape Town. Everywhere, but in the townships. People living in the townships don’t see the festivity in the malls or on TV. Often they don’t celebrate Christmas. But… that’s about to change.

In 2014, the NPO Where Rainbows Meet (WRM) started the Adopt a Child for Christmas Pledge. The idea is to raise enough donations to give the children in Vrygrond and Overcome Heights a Christmas experience that most of them otherwise would not get.

Kyle Luke Cupido, project manager at WRM explains, ‘Our event is a way for us to show the children that others care and can help them if they need support.’ This year, the pledge is up on Jumpstarter.

Founded in 2008, WRM initially focused on helping the disadvantaged youth in Vrygrond, but they soon expanded to the whole community. As well as a daily soup kitchen and ECD centre, they also run IT training, sewing programmes and a small business department. For the surrounding community, WRM is a much-needed hub of activity and support.

Kyle Luke Cupido, project manager at WRM explains, ‘Our event is a way for us to show the children that others care and can help them if they need support.’

The inhabitants of Vrygrond frequently lack proper housing, healthcare and educational resources. They are also affected by a great amount of crime and abuse in their community. The WRM website states that, ‘More than half (59.2%) of the population in Vrygrond and surrounds have been victims of crime.’

On top of the crime, parents of young children are often struggling to make ends meet and many have drug and alcohol problems. As a result, the children grow up with a lack of love and attention. They rely on the help and support of NGOs and organisations.

The children from Vrygrond and Over-come Heights gather at WRM to enjoy a Christmas celebration, with gifts bought from the donation drive. Photo: Ricardo van der Merwe

According to Cupido, charity-organised Christmas parties have decreased, so many children don’t get a celebration any more. That is why WRM started their own initiative. In the beginning, they asked around in the office if anyone could donate a little bit of money to buy Christmas presents for a few children. After that, they asked around in the community and then in Vrygrond. It got bigger and bigger.

The first year, Adopt a Child for Christmas collected R120,000. With that amount of money they were able to give 1,000 children a Christmas present. In 2015 the support for their initiative increased and they reached 2,500 children! This year they aim to give 5,000 children a real Christmas.

Once all the money is collected, the volunteers from WRM buy presents, such as clothes, educational materials, hygienic items and toys. The emphasis is on giving mostly practical items as well as buying from South African companies to encourage the country’s economy. All the presents are put on the table, divided by different age group and gender. Each child gets a gift and a photo with Santa.

Prianka Daud, US volunteer at WRM office, emphasises ‘It is so important to help these children, because they live a hard life and in this way we can give them a fun Christmas. It’s so easy and they don’t even ask for much.’

It is not just about the gift; it is about the experience of Christmas and being appreciated. For the past few years, the occasion has been the highlight of the year for both children and adults in Vrygrond and Overcome Heights.

The average American spends $830 on Christmas presents every year. For this amount you can give 100 children a present in Vrygrond. The reality is that simple everyday items we often take for granted are a dream for children in this community. If your heart speaks to you, help these children experience a real Christmas this December.

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