MetroFibre Networx delivers Christmas Gifts for the Children of Ikageng

In the flurry of Christmas shopping, endless wish lists to Santa, and seemingly endless gift wrapping, it’s important to remember the true meaning of Christmas. In a country where deep inequality and poverty impacts thousands of children living in harsh and massively challenging circumstances, MetroFibre Networx gathered its staff to donate and package 550 gift boxes for the children at Ikageng in Soweto.

Ikageng is a non-profit organisation which uses a community outreach approach and home base caregivers to support orphaned and vulnerable children and youth in Soweto. Most of Ikageng’s beneficiaries live in youth-headed households where they take on the role of a parent and look after their siblings. Others have terminally ill parents or live with their grandparents. The organization’s objective is primarily to attend to the needs of those children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS by offering support, mentoring, life skills, nutrition, educational and psychosocial programs.

“As MetroFibre we are incredibly humbled to be able to make this contribution to children in the care of Ikageng, and most of all to see the impact that such a seemingly small gesture can make to children who face untold hardship on a daily basis. The real pleasure in giving these gifts has been ours, seeing what a difference it makes to a child’s esteem and self-worth to receive their own, personal gift,” says Haim Derazon, Chief Product Development and Commercialisation Officer at MetroFibre Networx.

According to Carol Dyantyi, CEO of Ikageng: “It’s amazing when a community of people come together and make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable, especially young children. When our children receive gifts from people unknown to them and it comes as a surprise, it really changes the way they look at their circumstances and lets them know there are people who care. We are immensely appreciative of the efforts of staff at MetroFibre and all those who heeded the call to donate and ensure that our children get to experience the joy of the season.”

Caption: Staff members from MetroFibre Networx gathered to donate and package 550 gift boxes for the children at Ikageng in Soweto.

For more information go to www.ikageng.org.za and www.MetroFibre.co.za