Ntondozi ; The High Commission of India sponsored the reconstruction of the Ntondozi Soup Kitchen which was previously destroyed by the heavy storms that recently hit the country. The handover event was held on Friday, May 21, 2021, at the Ntondozi Inkhundla.
The kitchen caters to over 100 children including those who are orphaned, disabled, or live with single parents.
Present at the event was the High Commissioner of India, Radha Venkataraman, Ntondozi Chief, Umntfwanenkhosi Masuku Dlamini, Ntondozi Inkhundla Member of Parliament, Moses Vilakati, the Inkhundla’s Indvuna, Eugene Mabuza, and other community representatives.
The Inkhundla’s Member of Parliament sought assistance from the High Commission soon after the soup kitchen’s caretakers voiced out the difficulties of serving the children in a building that seemed to be hazardous after it was destroyed by the storm, to which the Indian High Commissioner responded promptly.
Donation
The High Commission of India donated bags of cement and bricks for the reconstruction of the new soup kitchen. Also donated were solar panels that will be used to light up the soup kitchen.
In her remarks, High Commissioner Radha Venkataraman expressed how happy the Mission is on extending help to the people of Ntondozi; especially the children because in her home country, India, children are considered very special thus deserve to be taken good care of. She added that ten (10) women from the Ntondozi Inkhundla were awarded a fully-funded scholarship to study Electrical Engineering in India. She ensured the community that these women are well taken care of in India as this learning process is still ongoing.
The Member of Parliament of Ntondozi Inkundla voiced out his sincere gratitude to the High Commissioner for offering assistance to the community and for the donation and improving the community.
In his remarks, the MP indicated that when he approached the High Commission of India for assistance, he knew they would be of assistance as they are good people and very kind. He further appreciated the assistance in the human resource development of the Ntondozi Community in that the ten (10) women will in turn raise the community’s flag high and help in further developing the community. Closing, the MP donated educational puzzles to the children which he said will help them in acquiring knowledge on how to strategize things and develop brilliant ideas. He emphasized to the caretakers to take proper care of the facility as it is a special gift from the Indian High Commission.
Umntfwanenkhosi Masuku Dlamini, the Ntondozi Chief donated fencing rolls and poles to secure the kitchen so that livestock does not gallivant into the premises.
Gifts
The High Commissioner was gifted with a live goat by the constituency’s Indvuna in appreciation of the help she extended to the community. She also went home with grass mats, table mats, and a handmade necklace (ligcebesha), which were presented by the community.
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