CHILDREN at Somnjalose Care Point will now enjoy learning in a decent structure following the construction of new facility worth E587 110.38 by Stefanutti Stocks Ingcebo Joint Venture and its partners.
The structure, which was a joint venture between Ingcebo JV, the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) and CECI, was completed within two months.
Handing over the structure, CBE Governor Dr Phil Mnisi stated that they had been approached by Stefanutti Stocks, which informed them about its social responsibility project that it had conceptualised for Somjalose Care Point. He said the bank analysed what could be done to ensure that its contribution was impactful and meaningful.
Dr Mnisi said they were presenting the structure to Umngani Wemakhosi, the area’s overseer.
He added that the project included the infrastructure and the provision of furniture, which was specifically contributed by the CBE, and a stove. He commended Stefanutti Stocks for going beyond providing the stove by committing to supply food monthly to ensure that the facility remained functional. This will be done for the duration of the project to complete the CBE construction structure at Ezulwini. Dr Mnisi said as a joint venture, they were presenting the structure to the community to help it stand and thrive, while enabling future generations to take pride in it and look back, knowing that there were people who cared about them.
with the children who are beneficiaries of the project.
Receiving the project, Umngani Wemakhosi Sifiso Khumalo said they were encouraged by the fact that when businesses settle in an area, they also consider helping the community or ploughing back through social responsibility initiatives.
Khumalo commended the joint venture for its work and called on other companies undertaking projects in communities to also contribute towards community development. He also appealed to the beneficiaries to take good care of the facility and maintain it.
Khumalo said he was also happy to see a vegetable garden, which was encouraged at all NCPs to ensure that children received nutritious food.
“The NCP looks after orphaned and vulnerable children. In the past, according to Eswatini culture, there was no orphan; so there is no child who should be vulnerable,” he said.
Director of the National Children Services Department in the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) Office Dr Nomcebo Nhlengetfwa, stated that NCPs were meant to provide children with safe spaces to eat, learn, play and grow.
She said NCPs were among the most important community institutions in the country, particularly for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC). “It is at NCPs that OVC receive their first nutritious meal, where early learning also begins,” Nhlengetfwa said. She stated that she was happy to note that the NCP had been furnished with learning equipment to empower the children.
