3 July 2020 Your free Caxton local newspaper • www.highwaymail.co.za Sisters pour their hearts into INSIDE Bags of Hope Lloyd Mackenzie as nappies, blankets, clothing, together 1 000 of these bags and in bulk and negotiate discounts Hillcrest AIDS Centre wipes, Vaseline, surgical spirits, donate them to The Robin Hood for essential items. They are TWO sisters, Julie (9) and sanitary pads as well as a lovely Foundation. "There will always also hoping to gather as much Trust plants seeds to Mikayla (12) Eksteen, are bag to hold all of the goodies. be a need, so this will hopefully newborn clothing as possible fi ght hunger dedicated members of the 1st "It is something to help the be a never-ending project for as well as sponsors for bags, 2 Waterfall Scouts and recently moms know that there is hope," them," said Margaret. nappies, maternity pads and launched a Bags of Hope project said Julie. Financial donations, which teddy bears. "Anything will be to help support moms and their Through friends and family, can be made through www. useful," added Margaret. newborns. both locally and abroad, they backabuddy.co.za/bags-of- "There is nothing more Brendaa "My daughters have become have raised R11 000 as well as a hope, allow the family to buy rewarding than putting someone lives a aware of how many babies few items of clothing and baby else's needs above your own. Life have been abandoned due to the blankets. Their aim is to put is diffi cult for each and every one life thatat fi nancial eff ects of Covid-19. of us but when you help make inspireses Baby homes are bursting at the someone's life even just a little seams and, sadly, donations from bit better, your life gets better 3 the public are dwindling away too," said Mikayla. as people are no longer able to To make an in-kind donation, support themselves, let alone contact Margaret via Whatsapp help the charities they hold close on 083 781 9290 or via email at to their hearts," said their mom, [email protected] Margaret. The duo said their duties as scouts include being useful and Julie and Mikayla Eksteen need helpful and fi rmly believe it your help to create 1 000 is their responsibility to help Bags of Hope for moms wherever they can. Initially and their newborns. they started selling avocados PHOTO: Dean Demos to raise money to purchase food parcels and they have Curry Queen now chosen to create Bags of Hope for mothers of shares newborns. secrets to The bags will contain spice up the essentials such meal time 8 YOUR SPACE YOUR RULES FIND IT ON www.privateproperty.co.za 2 Highway Mail | NEWS 3 July 2020 HACT’s Home Gardens bring relief to hungry families THE Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) recently launched a new Home Garden project as part of its local Covid -19 relief eff orts. The project, which involves supplying gogo-headed households with vegetable seedlings to start a home vegetable garden, has already benefi ted 158 grannies and their families living in Molweni, KwaNyusuwa and Inchanga. Irene Nduli (65) lives in Molweni with her three children and fi ve grandchildren and said the project has given her hope for the future. "The past few months have Juliet Mngadi from Molweni is one of been very diffi cult," said Irene. the grateful benefi ciaries of HACT’s new "My garden has helped to ease Home Garden project. my worries." The need for the project was identifi ed by local grandmothers from HACT’s Gogo Support Groups programme, many of whom have several young grandchildren who currently miss The initial vegetable seedlings for HACT’s Home Garden project were supplied by the local co-operative out on their daily school meals. Ilangabi Elingacishi, based in Ngcolosi. Pictured are Mpilo Zuke (HACT), Philani Magwaza, Bongisiwe "The Covid-19 pandemic Mazeka (HACT), Mlungisi Ngcobo and Phindiwe Mashiloane. has resulted in enormous food security risks for many very costly and it will not be that will help prevent hunger in who noted this was an important vulnerable households in our easy to keep going in the long- the coming months of ongoing factor for many of the gogos and communities and, while HACT run," said HACT’s Phindiwe employment disruptions and loss. their young families who are at and many other organisations Mashiloane. "The supply of fresh, seasonal high risk of infection as a result are working hard to provide HACT’s Home Garden project vegetables will also help to keep of HIV/AIDS, TB, heart disease emergency food parcels to these aims to give needy families a their immune systems strong and a myriad of other prevailing families, the reality is they are sustainable source of nutrition and healthy," said Phindiwe, health issues. How to donate Donations towards HACT’s Banking details: Home Garden project can be Account name: Hillcrest AIDS made online at www.hillaids.org. Centre Trust za or via EFT into HACT’s bank Account number: 1147961433 account. Email your proof of Bank: Nedbank HACT’s Pemla Mtshali helps select the payment to fundraising@hillaids. Branch: Hillcrest vegetable seedlings for distribution to org.za. All donations are tax Branch code: 133826. local grannies in Molweni. deductible. Reference: Garden project The 65-year-old Irene Nduli from Molweni is very excited about her new home garden. 3 July 2020 NEWS | Highway Mail 3 Brenda shines as a beacon of hope BRENDA Boisson, who is considered to be one of the oldest persons with Living life to the fullest Down Syndrome in KZN, celebrated her 70th birthday on Sunday, 28 June. The determined and strong-willed Careways House, Richmond, KZN Brenda was born in Durban and Brenda has achieved so much in her opened in 2005 she moved into the at the time of her birth (and for life as in 1992 the Durban Y-club small residence which she eventually many years afterwards) Brenda’s opened its doors to the mentally shared with nine other intellectually parents, Ailsa and Stanley Boisson, challenged. challenged folk. were not aware or told by medical Brenda joined their gymnastics At the end of 2010, Brenda decided professionals that Brenda was born programme, travelling into Durban that she would like to return home with Down Syndrome. alone by bus and, in 1995, qualifi ed and she rejoined the Careways She was not kept in the background, for the Special Olympic World Workshop in Kloof, from which she but grew up in Hillary as an important Games in Newhaven, Connecticut, eventually retired in mid-2018. part of her family, went everywhere USA. Brenda continues to live with her with them and was included in In 1999 Brenda attended an sisters in Kloof. She is a devoted everything, which stimulated and International Down Syndrome great aunt to her many nieces and benefi ted her. Conference in Jerusalem where nephews. Brenda said, "The hard work my she participated in and spoke at “Sadly, with age, her abilities, mother put in when I was young made workshops. (As an example of physical and mental, are slowing me far more independent than a lot of her initiative and determination, down. She achieved much in her other Down Syndrome folk." attending this conference was life, and, at 70 years, is considered Over the years, Brenda has been dependent on funds being to be one of the oldest persons with invited to speak on many occasions raised. Brenda phoned the Down Syndrome in KZN. We are at schools and organisations in Queensburgh News, asked a very proud of her,” said her sister, and around Durban, at Edgewood journalist to interview her, Melanie. Teachers’ Training College, to nurses take a photo, and include “We, her sisters, never realised the in training, at Down Syndrome AGMs her appeal for funds in the importance of all that Brenda did and conferences in both Johannesburg write-up). because to us, growing up with her, it and Durban. When her mother died was just expected and accepted. We Over the years Brenda was in 2002, Brenda decided now realise that, to other families of interviewed by newspapers that that, in case she outlived children with Down Syndrome, what featured articles on her achievements, her sisters, she should fi nd our parents achieved teaching Brenda, and on radio as part of Down somewhere to live (again is a beacon of hope of what the future Syndrome Awareness Days. her initiative). can hold for their children.” Through her interactions, she Brenda was already a Melanie thanked everyone who has off ered encouragement and hope to Brenda Boisson celebrated her 70th birthday member of the Careways loved, supported and been a friend to many parents expecting a baby with on Sunday, 28 June. Workshop in Kloof, so when Brenda over these past 70 years. Down Syndrome. Open your heart for local NPO THE Open Door Crisis Care Centre How to win will host a lucky draw fund-raiser, in lieu of its annual breakfast, and there The money from each entry will Banking details: are six exciting prizes to be won. be used to help the non-profi t Name: The Open Door Crisis It is R200 per entry and the prizes organisation (NPO) support Care Centre include a delicious lunch for four from abused women and children. Bank: FNB Eat Greek Caterers; two R500 vouchers Contact the Open Door on Account number: from Books and Books; a mid-week 031 709 2679 or email info@ 508 1112 7775 break to the value of R2 500 from The opendoor.org.za.