“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children” – Nelson Mandela
Christmas Party for El-Shammah Home for Abandoned Babies
On 28 November 2020 Dynamic Technologies sponsored a Christmas party for the babies and staff at El-Shammah Home for abandoned babies in Primrose, Gauteng.
El-Shammah, meaning “God is there” in Hebrew, can accommodate 18 babies at a time, looked after by seven caregivers, one social worker and Allistair and Merencia Scholtz. The home was set up in 2009 to care for abandoned, orphaned and abused babies ranging in age from birth to 18 months. In 2016 the Scholtz’s took over the running and operations of El-Shammah Home, as they had previously adopted their own child from there and felt a calling to get involved and make a difference.
Tracy Fowler, who administers Dynamic Technologies’ Social Responsibility initiatives, represented the Dynamic Technologies group at the event, along with three volunteers. “We interacted and spent time playing with the children as much as we could due to strict COVID protocol,” says Tracy.
On the day of the event, lunch was served, and both the babies and staff were given gifts and sweet treats and baby biscuits. Each child received a gift of their own blanket and two new outfits. Dynamic Technologies also donated some communal educational toys, dolls, cars, and balls to the centre. In addition, each staff member received a R500 food hamper and a cosmetic pack to pamper themselves.
“For abandoned babies, some with serious emotional illnesses and deep psychological issues who come to El-Shammah Home, the hope and the healing are all because of you. Your kind donation helps to give these babies the time and attention they need to heal, with medical attention; gentle rehabilitation therapies and much more,” said Allistair Scholtz on the day
Dynamic Technologies will continue supporting El-Shammah Home going forward.
The SWEETEST way to bake a difference
In September 2020 Dynamic Technologies donated R10,000.00 to Cupcakes of HOPE, effectively becoming a ‘cupcake angel’.
Cupcakes of Hope raises awareness around child cancer, and also financially assists affected patients and families in need of medical assistance, through baking and selling cupcakes. Funds raised in this way typically go to assisting cancer patients every month by either paying for their medical or other day-to-day expenses like food, and transport money for their hospital visits, or nappies and other supplies for smaller children and babies.
The event is one of several that the Non-Profit Company and Public Benefit Organisation hosts during the year. The main event is hosting South Africa’s National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer in September. As September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, they usually also distribute leaflets with information on Early Cancer Warning Signs. In previous years, cupcakes would have been sold in malls and other public spaces with high foot traffic, but because of Covid-19, this couldn’t happen in 2020, and deeply affected their target.
“While we weren’t able to reach our target of R2 million in 2020, we overcame the challenges posed by Covid-19, and we faced it head-on. We usually assist between 80-100 patients monthly but due to Covid it increased significantly. In July 2020 we assisted 131 patients, and because of this many wishes could not be granted,” says Stephanie Malan, Awareness Coordinator at Cupcakes of Hope. “Anyone can become a Cupcake Angel – all you need is a bit of time and loads of love and TOGETHER we can ‘Bake A Difference’ in children’s lives.”
Brightening the future in Newclare
The Newclare Community Centre’s outreach and charity programmes were initiated and are driven by a local church, headed by Pastor Khan, in Newclare, adjacent to Westbury in Johannesburg. For more than 10 years they operated out of a school hall in this notorious and impoverished suburb. But in order to fulfil the needs of the community, they needed proper premises and infrastructure.
While operating from the school, the church raised funds to secure their own premises and construct a church / hall building that would be dedicated to serving the community in areas such as learning assistance and after-school care for underprivileged children, food distribution to the needy, and drug rehabilitation.
The onset of Covid-19 fast-tracked their plans – they could no longer use the school hall; yet the Newclare community needed them. The church obtained permission, and in May 2020 started building a steel structure, thereby putting plans for the construction of the main building on hold. In October 2020 they approached Dynamic Technologies through the Community Development Foundation in Johannesburg to assist in financing the required electrical infrastructure. By the end of November 2020 all work had been completed, and the council had signed off on all electrical and structural installations.
“We had no electricity, and the money Dynamic Technologies gave us was a great help. Today we can function properly as a community outreach ministry because of this,” says Pastor Khan.
