1. Page 10 The Rising Sun 22 June 2016
Whetstone Primary
School hosted the Ma-
hatma Gandhi Annual
Speech Contest on 24
May 2016. Designed to
inspire confidence and
Inspired to speak out as Gandhi did
As part of the many pro-
grammes undertaken by
the Phoenix Child and
Family Welfare Soci-
ety, the Child Protection
Team at Phoenix Child
Welfare was established
to promote awareness on
child abuse and report-
ing procedures on child
abuse.
“With child abuse in-
creasing, it is very im-
portant that parents and
caregivers know what is
child abuse and neglect
and how to protect our
children from it”, ex-
plained social worker,
Natly Saminathan. The
Child Protection Team
makes children and par-
ents aware of children's
rights and the respon-
sibility of parents to-
wards children. This is
done through talks with
children at school, com-
munity talks and provid-
ing awareness through
workshops. The team
conducts child protec-
tion talks continuously
throughout the year.
Every year child pro-
tection is highlighted
nationally during the
months of May and
June. This year Child
Protection was com-
memorated from 29 May
to 5 June. The colour
green is used to symbol-
ize our support of child
protection. During this
period the Child Pro-
tection Team conducted
school and community
talks and hosted a Child
Protection March at the
Phoenix Fair. The march
was held on 5 June and
all participants in the
march wore an item of
green colour to show
their support.
The child protection
team continues to bring
awareness to child abuse
and advocate for chil-
dren's rights. For further
information, contact the
social workers from the
team, Natly Samina-
than, Phindile Manyathi,
and Hlengiwe on 031
5003671.
Child Protection
Team intensifies
campaign
After losing all of his pos-
sessions in a devastating
apartment fire last month,
carwash owner, Thomas
Bujeree felt completely
hopeless, thinking that
he would have to start
from scratch. However,
after discussing his dire
situation with Mahomed
Alli, SHEQ Manager at
Tongaat Hulett Develop-
ments, Bujeree learnt the
true meaning of generos-
ity.
Eighteen months ago,
Alli met Bujeree at a pri-
vate carwash in Overport
City. His operation uses
very little water and bio-
degradable soap, meaning
no effluent is washed into
stormwater drains.
Tongaat Hulett Develop-
ment offices have the ISO
14001 environmental rat-
ing which doesn't allow
for contaminated water to
be disposed of in drains.
Impressed with Alli's ser-
vices and process, Alli
decided to assist Bujeree.
After approaching man-
agement at Tongaat Hulett
Development's Umhlanga
Rocks Drive office, Bu-
jeree was invited to offer
his services, cleaning staff
members cars. “The staff
members have been de-
lighted with the excellent
job Thomas Bujaree of-
Hulett aid sweetens friendship after fire
Photo: Tongaat Hulett Developments staff members Ashitha Juglal (left) and Mahamed Alli
(right) with some of the items donated to Thomas Bujeree (middle) after his possessions were
destroyed in a fire in his apartment.
fers. He is liked by all and
is extremely trustworthy,
always returning valuable
items to the car owner if
they are left in the car in
error”, said Bongani Gu-
mede, Corporate Director
at Tongaat Hulett Devel-
opments.
However, last month Bu-
jeree and his flatmates
were awoken to the
sounds of a fire that had
started in the level below,
which spread, eventually
destroying all Bujeree's
possessions in the flat
above. After discussing
the situation with Bu-
jeree, Alli immediately
approached the Tongaat
Hulett Development staff
members, who started a
collection for Bujeree.
This drive was augment-
ed by the Social Sustain-
ability and Innovation
Programme (SSIP), which
is a Corporate Social
Initiative which aims at
ensuring all community
members based near Ton-
gaat Hulett Developments
are assisted and uplifted.
“The SSIP wants to add
value to local communi-
ties wherever we work.
Because of Bujaree's con-
nection to Tongaat Hulett
Developments and the
fact that he lives within an
area we conduct business,
it was decided that the
SSIP could assist”, said
Gumede.
One staff member,Ashitha
Juglal, prepared a list of
items he needed, as he had
lost everything, includ-
ing a bed, hotplate, ket-
tle, iron, duvet, blanket,
pots, crockery and cutlery.
Through the generous
donation, he was able to
purchase everything. An-
other staff member, Helen
McCarthy, also assisted
him with his first month’s
rental and donated items
from her home. He is cur-
rently living in temporary
accommodation while he
looks for a new apartment.
Bujeree said he was 'over-
whelmed' by the generos-
ity shown as he can now
start over without having
to save for years. “I am
so very appreciative of the
help. The people have just
been so good”.
Photo: Ensuring the protection of children.
Photo: Mr K Perumal (educator in charge ), Shivani Singh,
Dr NV Joseph (principal )
speaking skills among
Grade seven learners,
the contest was divid-
ed into two sections:
English and isiZulu.
Learners thereafter
participated in the fi-
nals held at DUT’s ML
Sultan Campus, which
had learners from over
twenty schools in at-
tendance.
Locally, Shivani Singh
of Whetstone Primary
School was placed
first in the English cat-
egory. Singh went on
to do exceptional well
and was placed third in
the finals. She received
a computer tablet for
herself along with oth-
er goodies and a cash
prize for the school.
The principal and staff
are extremely proud of
her achievements and
wished her well in her
future.