Daily News Milk Fund and partners uplift vulnerable girls during Heritage Month

"Caring for Girls" in need is what the Daily News Milk Fund, in collaboration with its partners the Imbumba Foundation, Pedros, and SunFree, set out to do as a Heritage Month initiative.

Saint Philomena's Centre, a facility based in Sydenham, Durban, providing shelter and support for vulnerable and orphaned girls, was the recipient of essential items donated by the partners.

For the management of St Philomena’s, it is essential to keep the centre’s wheels operational in spite of being continuously beset with various challenges. Therefore, the gesture of kindness from the donors warmed their hearts.  

Asanda Madlala, the centre’s social worker, was filled with gratitude when the sponsors and a team from the Daily News visited the facility on Rippon Road yesterday.

“Their visit makes us very happy. Heritage Month is a significant time for us as we gather to celebrate our identity,” she said, highlighting the joy such events brought to the children.

Madlala stated that despite various challenges, the centre has been operating for over 15 years and currently accommodates 37 girls, just below its capacity of 40. She regards community support as priceless. “We are very delighted and hope that we will receive more of these invites in the future.”

Tiarra Lee, a representative of SunFree, shared how they reached out to communities, including their programme of supplying girls' sanitary products, which made the collaboration with Saint Philomena's a perfect fit. “We conduct presentations in schools on hygiene and want to ensure that girls know they’re not alone and that we are here for them,” she said.