Picture: MATTHEW FIELD
East London members of Christ Embassy International embraced the festive spirit of giving last week when they travelled to Thumamina Centre in Duncan Village to hand over a donation of toiletries, food and clothing.
“Each year, we hold an International Day of Service in honour of the leader and president of our ministry, Pastor Chris [Oyakhilome],” said church member Thembekazi Siwundla.
“What we normally do is we go out into the community, we identify projects, we go there and we then perform a service.”
In the past, Siwundla said they had worked with a number of children’s homes and frail care centres around the city and have been in contact with Thumamina head Noxolo Mbekwa for the last two years.
Mbekwa said the centre focuses on orphans and vulnerable children in the local community.
“We do home visits for the children and elderly people that are staying with their grandchildren,” she said.
“We are taking care of those children – we are making sure they are attending school, we make sure they have got something to eat at night and we are also checking their progress in school.”
The centre also provides assistance to parents who may be struggling.
“Drugs are a main issue in this community, especially alcohol.
“You’ll find that a child has both parents but the parents don’t how to take care of the child so we are there to assist.”
