Sue Petzer of Pam Golding has supported Mabel’s Haven in Kwa Makhuta, Amanzimtoti, for the past seven years. She became involved through her church, which Mabel also attends. Mabel’s Haven is open to children and anybody in the community who needs a safe place. No one is ever turned away – whether they need, food shelter or assistance, Mabel, aided by Sue, will help.
Sue’s first project was to improve Mabel’s home in order to provide a covered space and a safe place for children to play and do their homework. Her most recent project was to make Mabel’s Haven more self-sufficient. To this end, she procured a large quantity of fabric from Toyota and secured an industrial sewing machine and an over-locker from a church group, and now the community’s women make items like Bible covers and ottomans, which are sold to generate income.
Providing food is one of the biggest problems and a lot of Sue’s time is spent ensuring that the haven has sufficient bread, mealie meal and basic supplies for the children and members of the community that Mabel supports. Sue also lobbies local businesses for assistance, and approaches members of the local community who are moving home or doing a general clearing out to donate articles, which she delivers to Mabel for distribution. Sue also facilitates the donation of wheelchairs for the community’s disabled and handicapped members.
Sue’s schedule of ongoing assistance and involvement includes:
School fees and clothes
Food parcels
An Easter party
A Youth Day party or outing
A Christmas party
An extra outing during the year
Special projects for particular needs
Special events like Mandela Day
Mabel and Sue’s main objectives are to:
Care for orphaned children of all ages
Take care of all sick people
Care for the elderly who need nursing or assistance
Increase awareness within the church about the needs of the poor
Increase awareness within the local community of child abuse, TB, HIV/Aids and so forth