It was a jubilation as Touching Acts NPC (TA) held a fruitful event on 24 September 2020 at Touching Acts boarding home to celebrate Heritage Day.
The event was Sponsored by OR Tambo District Municipality, SUKU caterers and Décor, Asekwa construction and projects, and Premier Bread with event logistics. The community of Norwood and Mthatha offered donations of food parcels and pledges as their support of the vision of Touching Acts.
Award-winning gospel artist, and event guest of honour, Bethusile Mcinga graced the occasion with his presence, also in attendance was the ANC women’s league and ward committee members headed by Mrs Jafta.
Phase 1 of the event started at 10am whereby participants, including the beneficiaries’ parents, people from Mthatha and other surrounding areas were showing off their beautiful traditional apparel from different tribes of South Africa, as they dropped off food parcels for TA children.
Hunger is one factor that disturbs the learning process of children. It is of paramount importance that individuals, communities and corporates partner in order to realise the vision of non-profit organisations like TA and for them to provide basic necessities like food for their beneficiaries. Phase 1 of the event received a satisfactory response as evidenced by the food parcels received, and it ended in the afternoon at 2pm.
During the 2nd Phase of TA heritage celebration day, TA children entertained the audience with “A Godly Heritage” theme verses from Psalm 78:1-8 and gospel traditional dances that had the audience actively engaged as the women audience ululated in excitement.
Mrs Jafta, who was representing Ward 8 Councillor Maphekula, applauded TA NPC for reminding the people of Mthatha about their heritage and the importance of preserving the future generation.
The Founder of TA, Noluyolo Zintle Mehlomakulu, gave a brief history of TA and why they mainly focused on eTipini children. She also enlightened people about the dominating unfavourable conditions at Soweto/Tipini where the children are coming from.
“A child is raised by a village”, said Mehlomakhulu. She pleaded with the audience to partner in raising children in favourable conditions and safe environments, hence her reason for assisting holistically the children of Tipini to access quality education in order to change their narrative.
Bonginkosi Bonkolo who was the MC for the day said TA children’s challenges should be first known by community leaders before being channelled to other stakeholders as the old adage says charity begins at home.
Having been born and bred in eTipini with a determination to equip herself and be ready for the job market by acquiring a Baccalaureate Technology in Public relations management from Walter Sisulu University with the help of Mehlomakulu. Siziwe Mayoyo narrated the hardships she experienced during har days in Tipini and how a formal education is playing a positive impact in her life.
She pleaded with all who were gathered to put a collective effort and assist children from unfavourable circumstances contrary to what others may say that they grew up in such places its an illness that every responsible citizen must correct so we can pass down a new heritage to generations to come.
The children were encouraged to focus on their studies and that their “background does not determine your destiny” by the guest of honour, Mcinga.The grand finale was food and beverage tasting a treat of the scrumptious African cuisine that was prepared by different African nationalities. Among the top dishes was our very own Xhosa dishes isigwampa, umqa, ulusu, and nqodi, a traditional Xhosa drink.
