In the spirit of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, the CSIR International Convention Centre (ICC) donated a range of soccer items to the children of Mohau Village to provide lasting fun and prolong memories of this momentous occasion. The items previously formed part of a special World Cup display at CSIR ICC and provided entertainment for its delegates.

A goal post set, tabletop football game, soccer balls, vuvuzelas, South African flags and scarves as well as Zakumi dolls were among the items delivered to the Mohau Children’s Home. The donation also included additional items such as table cloths, curtains, scarves, trousers, pots and pans.

The items delivered to the Mohau Children’s Home

“All that could be heard when the donated goods were offloaded at Mohau was the joyful ululation of ladies who help out at the home and children shouting in excitement when they saw the soccer balls and Zakumi dolls,” says Refilwe Nchebisang, CSIR ICC marketing assistant.

Mohau Children's Home has been operating for 13 years as either a temporary or permanent residential care facility for orphaned, abused, abandoned, neglected and terminally ill children and their families who are infected or affected by HIV/Aids. Mohau is based on the Kalafong Hospital grounds and caters for the dire need experienced at the Kalafong and Pretoria Academic Hospitals, as it is there that babies are often abandoned by their mothers who are infected by the HIV virus.

Mohau Children's Home is a residential care facility for orphaned, abused, abandoned, neglected and terminally ill children

Miranda Tshabangu, Mohau Home caregiver, said that the donation could not have come at a better time as the home lost one of its children only a week before. “With the kids having been watching the FIFA World Cup and aspiring to be soccer stars, these items are exactly what we need to cheer them up,” she explains.

The CSIR ICC has another community service arm — the centre donates food and/or consumables that are not used during events to charities in and around Pretoria. These donations are made on a regular basis on behalf of the event host, who is credited by name for the contribution.

Inside the Mohau Children’s Home

The CSIR ICC would like to challenge other establishments to follow suit and assist centres like Mohau Children’s Home.

For more information about Mohau Children’s Home, or to make a donation to the organisation, visit www.mohau.za.org, or contact Ester Jaca on +27 (0)12 318 6762.