They are fighting over food because they are so hungry – these words inspired Tseleng Molete to formalise the feeding scheme associated with the House of Hope Community Development project in Welkom.
This scheme has received a R5 000 donation from Media24’s #100ActsofKindness Project.
The House of Hope feeding scheme was nominated by Vista, a Central24 community newspaper, which is part of Media24.
Molete, the House of Hope social worker, regularly does counselling and community work, which includes different feeding schemes in the community. One day while visiting the Bedelia Primary School in Welkom, she noticed children squabbling over the food they had been given.
“When I asked the teacher why they were fighting, she answered – because they are so hungry. These words stuck with me and inspired me to try and do more,” she says.
Although House of Hope has regularly performed charity and donated food parcels, in addition to running ad hoc feeding schemes in the community, Molete decided to do something more defined, and consulted with Dr Jackie Botes of House of Hope.
“At first we tried to get the community and businesses involved, but then we decided to do it ourselves,” says Molete.
Since the beginning of February, they have already fed 404 people in the community. In addition to the general feeding scheme, there are also 34 children at Bedelia Primary who now form the nucleus of the Bread Project.
These learners receive food twice or, if necessary, thrice a week.
“We deliver bread to the school twice a week and make sure the school ‘pantry’ has bread fillers like peanut butter, jam and spreads. This project feeds the learners from Gr. 1 to Gr. 3.”
Molete says there is always a need for volunteers. The school project needs helping hands and food donations would be welcome.
She makes it her task to identify needs in the Goldfields community.
“The suburb of Bedelia, which is situated around House of Hope, is especially in dire need, socially and financially, because of mine lay-offs.
“The people are unemployed and struggling. Other areas in Welkom, like Thabong, have similar needs, and I am going to involve more schools by establishing Bread Projects,” Molete says.
The food parcels provided by the House of Hope feeding scheme normally contain peanut butter, jam, pasta, rice, sugar, tinned food, fish, bully beef – and if there is any available, sweets, crisps, maize meal, cooking oil and flour.
“I will also include basic toiletries, if I have available,” she says.
Molete, on a daily basis where there is an identified need, provides clothing, food, counselling and social services.
“There is a lot of need in this community.”
The suburb of Bedelia, which is situated around House of Hope, is especially in dire need, socially and financially, because of
mine lay-offs – Tseleng Molete
