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‘Make A Child Smile’ presents ‘Feed A Child’ initiative |04 June 2021

‘Make A Child Smile’ presents ‘Feed A Child’ initiative

Several children identified by the ‘Make a Child Smile’ organisation to be suffering from lack of sufficient food due to different reasons made worse by the economic impacts on their families brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, will as from this month start receiving food hampers under ‘Feed A Child’, a new initiative of the organisation.

Clifford Mondon, the chairperson of Make A Child Smile’, noted that when times are hard and families are facing the financial pressure to make ends meet, it is always the children, who are already vulnerable, who suffer the most mainly through poor quality and insufficient food which can affect their ability to study well at school.

“The ‘Feed A Child’ initiativetherefore is to encourage people in society to give at least one food item which will be collected and later distributed to these children and their families who are in dire need. The distributions will be carried out in collaboration with the Red Cross and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs,” Mr Mondon explained.

Mr Mondon has pointed out that the Red Cross on its part will also follow up on the families receiving assistance to help them find better ways to help themselves so that they do not rely on the donations every month.

Commenting on the ‘Make a Child Smile’ newest initiative, Mr Mondon said: “I took my time to work out everything very carefully to ensure there is no abuse of the assistance and no duplication of the work that the Red Cross is already doing to help families in need.”

He further explained that the idea behind his new initiative is also to encourage individuals from different organisations to come forward and contribute a food item which when put together will make a difference in the life of a child and family in need.

Mr Mondon said he will start distributing the food items that he has collected so far during the course of this month and this will be done as and when required.

Individuals wishing to make a contribution can drop off their food items directly at their respective district administration offices on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue which are already aware of the project. The Red Cross on Praslin and La Digue will be responsible to collect food items from their respective district administrators’ office.

He said the items will be collected once every week, sorted and stored at the ‘Make A Child Smile’ store which is located at Mont Fleuri as well as at the Red Cross storage facility which is located at Providence.

Frozen foodstuff like fish, meat, fruits and vegetables can be dropped off directly at the Red Cross office at Providence every day from 9am to 3pm. On Praslin and La Digue such perishable food items can only be collected every Tuesday and Red Cross must be contacted on 4374544 or 2521962 to make arrangements for collection. 2814000 can also be contacted for other arrangements on Mahé.

Among other partners onboard to help in the initiative is the Seychelles Coast Guard which has agreed to assist in transporting the food items.

Meanwhile the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) has also agreed to allocate a place at the Bois De Rose Hypermarket where trolleys will be placed on the last Saturday of every month so that shoppers can also take part in the initiative by donating a food item as they walk out of the hypermarket.

“Our aim is also to get members of staff from various companies and organisations to take part in the project. All members of staff who wish to be part of the project can donate a food item per month and this will be collected when it is ready and once every month a different organisation will get media publicity when they present their donation to ‘Make A Child Smile’ & the Red Cross,” Mr Mondon remarked, noting that this will be a way to further raise public awareness on the fact that everyone is doing their part to help our children and their families who are facing desperate times with the hope of encouraging others to help out as well.

Mr Mondon further pointed out that since the project ‘Feed A Child’ became public on social media recently, some people have already shown their interest and are personally helping specific families with children in need.

“‘Make A Child Smile’ is really grateful to everyone who are willingly taking part in the project to make a difference in the lives of these children. We also thank all the partners and all those who are already supporting us and we encourage other people to join in,” said Mr Mondon.  

 

Compiled by Marie-Anne Lepathy

 

 

 

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