OVC Kickoff event

I wasn’t sure we could pull it off, but we did….our first official OVC drop-in centre kick-off event. It occurred yesterday, June 12, 2007, at the township community hall at 3pm. We filled the auditorium with orphans and needy children and parents, possibly close to 200, who waited patiently and soberly. There was a long head table decorated with white table cloths, glass pitchers of water and centerpieces of plastic flowers, where the dignitaries sat in front of the audience, including me. A one-page program was provided for visitors which was crafted by me (believe it or not) in the two-hour span of time earlier that day when I had been asked to do it by the chairperson of the committee. We even had entertainment provided by a local high school student group of Zulu singers and dancers, where one competes as to who can kick their legs the highest above their heads.

The last meeting of the management committee for the CCBE for OVCS (our new name) was two weeks ago. We had just collected about 30 blankets and some second-hand warm clothes for our children from The Global Day of Prayer event, “Winter Hope” campaign, which was the first time we had partnered with a community event to introduce ourselves and our mission to the wider community as well as solicit donations. We felt emboldened by this early success and before I knew it, the committee decided to build a major community event around handing out these donations to the needy children. We had been promised 108 brand-new blankets by SASOL, a huge energy company that employs many of our citizens, but they hadn’t arrived yet. Well, later that weekend after this meeting, I took off for a week in Durban to attend the South Africa AIDS Conference, not thinking too much about the implications of pulling off a major community event in less than 2 weeks. Mid-way through the week, I started to semi-worry. A cell phone call to the chairperson of the committee assured me that “everything was up to standard.” So, I went about my business as an exhibitor for my organisation and attendee to some of the sessions.

Returning to work the day before the event, there was a worrisome calm. Yet, in the late morning, I began receiving calls; from the treasurer, deputy secretary and deputy chairperson that seemed to indicate that a last minute flurry of organizing activity was afoot. The SASOL blankets had arrived. Yeah!

When I arrived to the community hall, we parked the cars in the back of the structure, for ease in delivering the blankets, but more importantly, so we could enter the hall as a group and be seated at the head table with the audience standing in respect. To my surprise, the hall was packed, all of the donated clothes had been laid out on the stage area according to size, blankets were piled high and the home-based care volunteer group (who my organisation supports) was busy cooking a supper of bean stew and bread for all who attended the event. There were speeches by local government officials, pastors and, even me, who was asked to give the “vote of thanks” speech at the end of the programme before we handed out the blankets. I ended my speech with a brief “thank you” speech in Zulu which really made a hit…..…I always remind myself that in spite of my technical limitations with the language, it is the effort that wins hearts. That night, 100 orphans and vulnerable children slept warmer in the freezing temperatures of our high-veld winter. They received a nourishing meal and, possibly, a bit more hope.

So, we’re off! Every success we have in our mission to help the needy children of our community builds the confidence of all members and those we touch in our efforts. I feel so privileged to be a part of this amazing group of dynamic, caring people and have been touched deeply by their inclusion of me in their hearts and minds.