‘WALK FOR SIPHO’S HOME’ RAISES E200 000

MANZINI – Sipho Vilane’s children will finally have a place to call home.

The Walk for Sipho’s home initiative to raise funds to complete a home for Vilane’s children at Ekutsimleni has been successful, as over E200 000 in cash and pledges have been raised for the project.

This was revealed during a press conference held by the Friends of Sipho at the Old Stone Church in Manzini yesterday.

Sipho Vilane is a cancer patient, with a great concern of having no shelter to call home for his children.

 Vilane has been living with albinism and battling cancer since his diagnosis in 2010; as a result, the medical battle has derailed his financial standing through excessive medical bills.

The Walk for Sipho’s Home is a fundraising initiative that is in support of the ‘Build Sipho a Home Project’ that was started in the last quarter of 2019 by friends and colleagues of Sipho.

 The group, Friends of Sipho, with the purpose of raising funds to complete Vilane’s home, embarked on the journey to raise funds in 2019, thereafter raising enough money to start constructing the foundation of the house.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was halted for about six to eight months, after which the group decided to create a Facebook page, inviting individuals and companies to contribute to the noble cause.

With Khuba Traders Human Resources Officer Bongani Dlamini taking the lead, Friends of Sipho embarked on a fundraising walk from Bulembu in Pigg’s Peak last Monday, to Ekutsimleni in the Manzini region. 

Since the fundraising walk commenced at Bulembu last Monday, individuals and companies have pumped in about E24 000 in cash, while E180 000 in pledges was raised towards the project.

Donations

Making his remarks yesterday, Dlamini stated that in addition to the cash donations, good Samaritans contributed gifts in kind such as building material, 50 chicks from Kalulu Hatcheries, four goats from certain individuals, and the generous donation of a backyard garden project, coupled with fruit trees from the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard).

 “The journey continues as we continue to invite more individuals and organisations to contribute to the initiative. There is still a lot of work to be done, as our vision is for Vilane’s children to have a house to call a home,” he expressed.

NAMBoard Communications Officer Melusi ‘Zox’ Dlamini commended Friends of Sipho for seeing the initiative through and expressed that the project touched the hearts of the parastatal, such that it took over the roofing of Vilane’s house and initiated a backyard project for the home.

On the other hand, Vice President of the Peaceful Warrior Foundation William Kelly stated that although the foundation contributed E10 800 towards the initiative, there was still a need for individuals and organisations to contribute.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: