With GEMS a little tender-loving-care goes a long, long way

Monday, 21 July 2014

When former community worker, Mama Nellie Matjeke opened the doors to Jehovah Jira Orphanage Centre, meaning God shall provide, in 2003 she chose a name for the orphanage that reflected her deepest hopes for the future.

More than a decade later the little township orphanage, situated in the heart of Soshanguve township, about 25 kilometres north of Pretoria, which started out with only ten children has grown in every possible way. Nowadays, Nellie's Orphanage, as it is affectionately known in the community, is home to thirty-five orphans, some as young as fourteen months. It also offered safe and secure day-care facility for the children of the community and has a full-time staff of 14.

On Mandela Day this year 62-year old Nellie and her much-loved orphans welcomed the staff and management of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) who visited the orphanage laden with much treasured goods. Not only did the people of GEMS deliver ample food, new beds and toiletries but they also donated a much-needed washing machine to the centre. But, by far, the most promising gift of the day was the manure, seeds, plants and other items that would help Nellie and her colleagues inject new life into the vegetable patch at the orphanage.

Commenting on the experience of the day, the GEMS team, South Africa's second largest medical scheme' said that it was a humbling and powerful experience, particularly as it was also the first time that the country celebrated the day without the iconic Nelson Mandela. "As we celebrate Nelson Mandela Day, we continue to embrace his values and honour his legacy to make the world a better place."
 
 "The Jehovah Jira orphanage is such a worthy corporate social investment initiative for the Scheme that we will continue our work here well beyond today. One of our future initiatives at Nellie's Orphanage will be the on-going supply of non-perishable foods to the centre for the remainder of the year."
 
"It was good to spend time with the children and to assist the overworked staff with some of the cooking and cleaning chores that take up so much time at the orphanage. The highlight of the day, not only for the children and the staff, but also for the tired GEMS volunteers was the braai that we enjoyed together at the end of the day."