Volunteers from the Durban ICC recently visited the Lungisisa Indlela Village (LIV), to donate resources and spend some time with the children. The day was spent singing songs, playing games and participating in various sports activities with the children. The group also had the chance to enjoy some cupcakes together, freshly baked by the Centre’s pastry chef, Skhumbuzo Maphanga.
When the staff members volunteered to spend the day at the LIV Village, they expected to visit a facility in urgent need of the basic essentials, however, they were pleased to find a model facility with furnished homes powered by sustainable solar energy and a well-structured routine for the children facilitating a healthy and educational lifestyle.
That’s not to say that the orphanage is not in need of support. LIV believes that if business, church and government partner together, we all will able to put a roof over every orphaned child’s head and South Africa will be known as a nation that looks after its children. LIV also understands that true sustainability is self-sustainability. To this end LIV Business, which is 100% owned by LIV Village making it a level 2 B-BBEE contributor, operates various business units which one day, will contribute to providing the essential needs of the children of LIV Village.
Established in 2001 by Tich and Joan Smith, the village provides children with a family environment, a trained fostered mother to nurture and love them, a primary and secondary school as well as housing to cater for their physical needs.
The Durban ICC’s association with the orphanage dates back to April 2010, when the LIV organisation hosted a prestigious fund-raising banquet for 4 000 guests from Government, Business and Churches at the Centre, which resulted in the formation of partnerships to confront the orphan crisis in South Africa and the African continent.
Commenting on the initiative, Durban ICC Chief Executive Officer, Lindiwe Rakharebe said, “Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow, therefore I would like to express my gratitude to the founders of Lungisisa Indlela Village, Tich and Joan Smith for creating this foundation. As the late Nelson Mandela said, ‘there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children’ ”
The day ended off with a video presentation from LIV showcasing the outstanding work the organisation is doing to change the lives of hundreds of orphans who would otherwise be left destitute. For more information how one can support this exceptional project, please contact them at Tel 032 007 0571 or visit their website: www.liv-village.com.
