Celebrating Mandela Day at Ingane Yami Children's Village
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Media
In the spirit of Nelson Mandela's enduring legacy, The Daily News Milk Fund spent Mandela Day at a place that reflected the very heart of his vision, Ingane Yami Children's Village.
Nestled in the lush Shongweni Valley, Ingane Yami – meaning 'My Child' in isiZulu, is not just a children's home, but a permanent, loving village for orphaned and vulnerable children.
The village consists of individual homes, each led by a dedicated foster mother who cares for six children, creating a nurturing family environment where dignity, healing, and hope are restored.
This Mandela Day, The Daily News Milk Fund chose to spend our 67 minutes by visiting this inspiring village, which is also proudly one of the beneficiaries on our ongoing milk and porridge distribution list.
As part of the day's visit, we were honoured to donate essential food items such as rice and sugar, small tokens that we hope will go a long way in their daily lives.
We were also thrilled to treat the children to ice cream, kindly sponsored by *Polar Ice Cream*, whose generosity brought wide smiles to little faces. To make the day even more memorable, each child received a goodie bag filled with treats and love; a small gesture to remind them just how cherished they are.
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Ingane Yami is more than just a shelter – it is a thriving, growing village built on a dream that took shape in 2009. It began as a vision in the hearts of Yvonne and Roger Greig, former senior pastors of Open Skies Church, who felt called to respond to the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and poverty within KwaZulu-Natal.
That dream is now a reality, with seven operational homes, an on-site school, social workers, a community hall, sports fields, and a resource centre in development.
During our visit, we could feel the buzz of excitement as the children prepared for an upcoming corporate soccer tournament. Here, children were not merely cared for, they are empowered, educated, and uplifted.
As we continue our work at The Daily News Milk Fund, it is organisations like Ingane Yami that remind us why we do what we do. Their vision to eventually grow to 25 homes and care for 150 children is a bold and beautiful goal, one that deserves community support and celebration.
Mandela once said, 'There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.'
On this past Mandela Day, we were privileged to witness a village that treats its children with the utmost care, compassion, and love – every single day.
To support The Daily News Milk Fund or contribute to future visits like this, please get in touch with our team on 031 3082437
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