Aah, December, the month of rest and relaxation. Well for some of us at least. December hails the holiday period where families reunite to express their joy and love for each other.
But not everyone will be able to enjoy in the festivities. I have spent the past week visiting small pockets of communities that are in dire need of assistance. Families that are ravaged by desperation, who are living in harsh conditions, hidden from sight in our neighbourhoods like a “dirty little secret” that no one wants to acknowledge. It has been an emotional week, meeting with residents of New Market Park, who are living in what is effectively old horse stables. Tiny rooms surrounded by squalor and poverty. These rooms are being rented out for as much as R1800 per month.
There aren’t sufficient toilet facilities and with a lack of services, such as refuse removal, young children are forced to play around a mountain of trash. But what struck me the most, was the attitude of the children. They weren’t moping around feeling sorry for themselves. Quite the contrary. They were running, playing and getting on with things, which I found to be quite amazing. It made me think of my life and the advantages that I have, a house, running water, my own toilet. I instantly regretted ever feeling down because of my perceived problems. My concerns and troubles seemed so trivial in face of the conditions these families live in.
The good news is, that through the concerted effort of my colleague Clr Mary Gobe, I will be able to bring a little cheer to the lives of these children. With the help of some sponsors we will be able to donate clothes and toys to these communities, making this a Christmas that they can all enjoy. I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they see what Father, or in this case, Mother Christmas has in store for them. Christmas is a magical time and this year, it will be just that much more, because it truly is better to give than to receive. So as you are enjoying time with your loved ones, remember to feel gratitude for all that you have and spare a thought or maybe even a meal, with those who are most in need.
