Abandoned children celebrate their ‘Mama’ this Mother’s Day

On Sunday, 12 May, Mother’s Day was celebrated across the country, as many South Africans honoured the women who have provided them with endless support and unconditional love for their entire lives.

However, giving birth to a child isn’t the only way one becomes a mother.  And just because someone gave birth, does not mean that they are automatically the loving, maternal type. A mother is a protector, authoritarian and of course, also a loving friend. A mother is a selfless, loving person who must sacrifice many of their wants for the needs of their children.

Clover Mama Afrika has a few of these selfless mamas who are playing a motherly role to Mzansi’s orphaned or abandoned kids. These mamas continually prove that being a mother is a lot deeper than sharing a blood relation. On Sunday, the children that Mama Nondumiso cares for took the time to thank and care for her and her staff.

Mama Nondumiso Mpitimpiti from Amalinda Forest in the Eastern Cape started her centre, Step Ahead Early Childhood Development Centre, in 1997, and currently has 153 in her care. She has an outreach programme that manages 210 crèches and 5 foster homes with 37 orphans.

As a way of saying ‘thank you’, she and the older caregivers were very spoilt by the young ones on Mother’s Day. Mama Nondumiso says ‘It was the best day of my life.’ The mamas were treated to a day of pampering and having their nails done, giving them the chance to relax that they truly deserve.

Her inspiring message to others is, “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen, to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house: when you see the naked to cover him, give yourself to the hungry. Isaiah 58:6-10.”

The Clover Mama Afrika project is proud to provide teaching and guidance to strong females (lovingly called ‘mamas’ due to their standing in their neighbourhoods) in communities all over the country. By doing so, the organisation helps to build their skills, as well as to sustain and improve their own community projects. Only the most committed are enrolled and these include women looking after orphans, the elderly and those suffering from HIV/Aids.