New kitchen for Walmer's favourite aunt
Daryn Wood
AUNTY Viv, who cooks up a storm on a daily basis to feed 125 children in Walmer Township, now has a new, fully-stocked kitchen to make her job a little easier.
Nomandithini Mpi, affectionately known as Aunty Viv, couldn't wipe the smile off her face after her previous kitchen – a broken- down shack – was replaced by a Wendy- house in February, thanks to the Charles Glass Society and Tavcor Motor Group.
The charismatic 60-year-old works under the Buyiselekhaya Project formed by ACVV PE South, whose mission is to assist poverty-stricken children residing and scrounging off the Arlington tip.
"The new kitchen is so nice and better to work in. It is safer now and there are no leaks," a grateful Aunty Viv said.
The Buyiselekhaya Project's feeding scheme also received new crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils and storage boxes to keep the food dry.
ACVV office manager and senior social worker Kathy Fourie said the shack posed logistical and safety risks, but it never stopped their star worker.
"Despite the conditions she worked in, Aunty Viv never stopped caring for the hungry children of her community. Her tenaciousness is admired by all who meet her," Fourie said. Assisted by the ACVV, Aunty Viv started her own soup kitchen in the township in 1991 cooking for many of the needy residents in the community.
In 2004 she was recruited by the Buyiselekhaya Project, the year it was initiated.
Without the soup kitchen, many of the children could return to the Arlington tip to scrounge for food, Fourie said.
"It dignifies the situation," she added.
Aunty Viv regularly looks after foster children and also runs a needle and bead work group for women who learn to make items for resale.
Described as an asset to the community, her motivation is to "empower the community to eventually do things for themselves".
"It's in my heart," Aunty Viv said.
The Buyiselekhaya Project also has an aftercare programme for 30 Grade 1 pupils who are fed and helped with homework.
The project also includes family preservation programmes, community development programmes and empowering child and youth programmes.
Kathy from the ACVV can be contacted on (041)585-4176 or (041)581-6987, or e-mail: acvvpesouth@telkomsa.net