VUT Alumni Relations reach out to the community
VUT Alumni Relations reach out to the community
Bikers convoy to the Kgahliso Children’s Home
Thabiso Sechele
VUT Alumni Relations partnered with the bikers’ charity society, Tigers Motorcycle Club, on a mass charity ride event for surrounding communities, such as Bophelong. The ride headed off from the Isak Steyl Stadium to Kgahliso Children’s Home on 10 June.
Lebohang Radebe, a VUT Alumni and lecturer in the Fine Art department, proved that community engagement is both her and VUT’s priority. She went back to her community and identified Kgahliso Children’s Home as the one that most needed help. This NGO is home to16 destitute children, some of whom are living with HIV.
Ms Radebe is also a member of the Tigers MCC. The society challenged BMW and the Mail & Guardian to help and they managed to collect 1 980 blankets to distribute to various organisations. Kgahliso Children’s Home received about 80 blankets as well as food, school bags and clothes.
Bikers together with the owner of the Shelter in the middle Ms Salamina Mokgatle
The manager of the home, Ms Salamina Mokgatle, was emotional but very happy to receive the help and that her precious children got to experience so much love. She has been struggling to get funding because of compliance matters which, in turn, require funding. She has been feeding the children from her own pocket for more than 18 years, since the home’s inception.
Tigers MCC were only too happy to lead the convoy from Isak Steyl to Bophelong and to give a helping hand. Their simple philosophy is: “If you’re a biker and you do not care, then there is something wrong with you.”
The University’s new Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zide also came and supported the fundraising event. The organisers are also grateful to Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo, custodian of the initiative.
To close the hand-over ceremony, Alumni Relations Officer, Mr Peter Masombuka gave thanks and encouraged VUT Alumni to always remember where they come from.