The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) Head of Department Ms Matilda Gasela, and Transversal Services Deputy Director General, Ms Priscilla Pietersen, handed R3050 cash donation to the Impilo Child Protection and Adoption Services in Fairvale Extension.
The Impilo project manager Leeat Jacobson took GDARD delegation on a walkabout to interact with the home’s residents. The healthy bouncy babies stole the hearts of the delegation, with the HOD Gasela struggling to hold back the tears as the baby in her arms chuckled with excitement.
According to Jacobson, Impilo strives is to secure permanent loving homes and families for the children. “A stable family environment to provide guidance and nurturing is crucial for every child development,” she said. Volunteers working in the centre are taken through a rigorous profile check to ensure the children’s safety. Other meaningful interaction with the children is established once trust and bonding is developed for at least four months.
The money is collected through a raffle initiated to dispose of gifts declared by employees, in line with the Department’s Ethics policy guidelines. The gifts’ value is established to rate the prizes accordingly.
Ms Gasela said that the donation to Impilo confirms the broad and diverse mandate in which the public service contributes to the country’s citizenry and nation building. “I am proud and commend all officials who complied with the ethics policy and demonstrated integrity by declaring the gifts as stipulated by the department’s policy.”
Find out how to become a volunteer and donating to Impilo in next week’s issue.
