Windhoek
The impoverished informal settlement of Oshitenda on the outskirts of Windhoek was turned into a haven for needy children and hungry mothers when Love is Charity held its fourth Street Store last Saturday, with scenes of children and mothers shedding tears of joy when loads of free donations arrived on their doorsteps.
Desperate cries from the dusty streets were dampened when more than 40 volunteers descended upon the informal settlement, where staying alive has become a fine-tuned art. Living impoverished and in dire need of a helping hand, residents of the settlement stood in awe as donations arrived by bakkie loads, thanks to an initiative of EM Love Foundation, which gathered resources from various organisations and companies to help facilitate its fourth Street Store.
Donations flocked in from Koi International, St Pauls College, Readi Bites, Stuttafords Windhoek and the University of Science and Technology’s marketing society. These donations were sorted and ordered by volunteers and a Street Store was set up in Oshitenda. The first three Street Stores were held in Walvis Bay, Windhoek and Gobabis.
The difference with the fourth Street Store was that it was taken directly to the people in need; right into their backyards and this was simply to ensure that it reaches the right people; those desperate for anything to make their lives slightly more comfortable.
The Street Store idea originates from Cape Town, South Africa and has spread across the globe. It hopes to create a shopping experience for the less fortunate, who are unable to fend for themselves.
As opposed to simply donating goods, they allow the less fortunate to browse through a makeshift, pop-up store and choose the items of their liking, ranging from shoes, shirts, jerseys, trousers, thus creating the ultimate shopping experience coupled with a meal and entertainment.
The EM Love Foundation, formally known as the Elias Mavis Love Foundation, is a charity foundation registered in 2016 as a section 21 company. Its inception started with a charity initiative, called Love is Charity, in 2012.
Founded by Mavis Elias, who has a heart for children and a passion for doing charity work and from whom the idea originated. From small ideas, such as the Love is Charity Fundraiser, which catered to 120 children from different orphanages, to the blanket initiative, which catered to street children and to the hot chocolate outreach, it has found its footing in the community and grew a large network of volunteers, with many citizens pledging assistance in the form of donations and a helping hand.
In its lifetime, it has touched lives with various charitable initiatives, with the largest being a national charity pop-up shop in collaboration with the Street Store. The Love is Charity team sorted through the clothing the night before the Street Store on October 22 to ensure that the clothing can be properly arranged for the setup the following day.
Word travelled fast among the residents and Saturday everyone was out on the street. The Street Store opened at 09h30, attracting a vast number of people who live in Oshitenda. They were then each allowed to take three items.
It was amazing to see all the beaming faces. Genuine happiness amongst the less fortunate, who were afforded a day of shopping and an experience that was unforgettable, both for them and the volunteer team.
There were more women than men out on the day, but this may be because many households are headed by women with children. Children, women and men of all ages were clothed and fed on the day.