Zinzile MavusoThe Ahmed Kathrada Foundation hosted a stakeholder meeting in preparation for Operation Winter Warm 2018.
The meeting was to get a wide range of community organisations to participate in and contribute to Operation Winter Warm, which takes place on June 23 and 24.
Organisations that were in attendance and pledged their support included the Lenasia Rising Sun, Eastwave Radio, Johannesburg Institute of Social Services (Jiss), Sanca Nishtara, City of Johannesburg – Region G, Lethal Forces Security, Nisaa Institute for Women’s Development, Tiba Services for the Blind, Councillor Zarina Motala and Warm Committee member Zahid Jainoodeen. Other supporters include the Ask Nanima Foundation, MC Security, Lenasia Yuvak Mandal, Region G – Disaster Management, Azaadville Muslim School and the Gandhi Walk Committee.
Organisations were requested to lend a helping hand in ensuring the success of Operation Winter Warm. Those present agreed to support the initiative in a number of ways including assisting with volunteers, transport, food for volunteers and serving as dropping off points on the collection days.
The Foundation’s Dawood Raphalalane said that through the stakeholder engagement meeting, it was hoped that this year’s Operation Winter Warm would be a “truly community driven initiative”. “Our community has an opportunity to get together and show our commitment to helping those in need. We recognise that poverty is a huge issue in South Africa, and that through Operation Winter Warm, we won’t eliminate the problem, but we can make a small difference in making winter more bearable for the under privileged who will benefit from the proceeds.”
Raphalalane urged other organisations, churches, temples, mosques, sports and other clubs in Lenasia and Lenasia South to be part of this initiative.
“We want you to get in touch with us and let us know if you can help mobilise volunteers to assist with the door-to-door collections, with the sorting of items and with logistics and transport on the day. While the initiative is youth lead, we welcome volunteers of all ages.”
Raphalalane further encouraged organisations to challenge each other in collecting books, non-perishable food items, blankets and clothing and to drop this off at the Foundation from now onwards, or at the Lenasia Cricket Stadium Glass House on June 23 and 24.
As part of this year’s Operation Winter Warm, the Lenasia Yuvak Mandal will also be coordinating a blanket drive in keeping with the legacy of anti-apartheid struggle veteran, Laloo ‘Isu’ Chiba. He was an ardent supporter of Operation Winter Warm and every year without fail, would buy blankets for various needy people during the cold winter months. Chiba passed away last year at the age of 87, the initiative therefore aims to collect over 87 blankets to be distributed to provide warmth for the impoverished.
Operation Winter Warm is an annual youth lead initiative that the Kathrada Foundation coordinates. In its 6th year, the initiative has benefited various homes catering for underprivileged children and victims of shack fires and other disasters.
Residents are encouraged to drop off items at the Lenasia Cricket Stadium Glass House, Hummingbird Street, Ext 1, on June 23 and 24.
Other drop off points on the day include:
Jiss – 5 Suikerbos, Ext 3,Lenasia
Tiba -Corner Nirvana Drive and Sastri Close, Ext 13, Lenasia
Lenasia Rising Sun – 164 Rose Ave, Ext 3, Lenasia
Gandhi Hall – 23 Mandrill Street, Ext 5, Lenasia
Azaadville Muslim School – 11 Medina St, Azaadville, Krugersdorp
