As the participants in most of the research studies undertaken by HPP are from the Umlazi township, we, the staff and students of HPP, wanted to give back to the community of Umlazi for this year’s Mandela Day. We therefore approached the Umlazi Child and Youth Care Centre, which is a home established for abandoned children from as little as one day old to 18 years of age. The centre caters for children who are in need of care due to being abused, neglected, or abandoned, or who suffer from certain behavioural problems. The Umlazi Child and Youth Care Centre provided us with a list of items that they are in need of and we then organized a collection within our department of toys, clothes, shoes, toiletries, cleaning products, arts and crafts materials, etc, for the children at the centre. 

On the day (in true South African style!) we hired two minibus taxis to transport us to the centre where we handed over our donations to the very grateful supervisors at the centre. We were then ushered into the hall, where we joined a few other like-minded organisations who were also volunteering at the centre for Mandela Day, and we were treated to some great entertainment that the centre had organized for their visitors. Some singing and dancing took place, and a hot lunch was served. Thereafter, we visited the babies ward and spent some time dishing out hugs and cuddles to the babies. 

We would like to thank the Umlazi Child and Youth Care Centre for welcoming us so warmly on Mandela Day. Thank you also to all HPP staff and students who went out of their way to collect boxes upon boxes of goods that the centre was in need of. We trust that HPP’s contribution will go a long way to improving the standard of care and lives of the children at the centre.