“This is our company’s way of giving back to local communities," Edgars’ Corporate Social Responsibility Manager commented. "We were touched by the widow, Gogo Nkiwane’s, challenges and wanted to help.”
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
“This woman is struggling to care for 18 orphaned children,” the Manager continued. “After gathering all the building material, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded with the necessary labour.’’
Mrs. Nkiwani was quick to express joy, hailing Edgars for what she called the highest level of compassionate service. “I express my utmost thanks for the humanitarian gesture by Edgars and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as Governor Machaya, for offering me a residential stand. May the Almighty Lord guide them an all that they do,’’ said the jovial Nkiwane.
Emmanuel Mapokotera, the Church’s Public Affairs Director, told ZimEye that the program brings together members of the Church and their neighbours to provide community service through their 2014 theme, ‘Working hand in hand with local government’. This theme inspired them to engage local authorities and other organizations to support and improve the communities in which they live.
“We invite people from other faiths and varied community members to partake in these life changing programs,” Mapokotera said. “Mormon Helping Hands was established in 1998, and since then thousands of volunteers have donated millions of hours of service to their communities. This program reflects the desire of Mormons to follow the example of Jesus Christ by serving others. Unlike previous years, we are doing something tangible for the needy in partnership with local authorities.”
The project also involved construction of a house for a blind couple in Ascot Extension; the stand was donated by the honourable Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, CDE Jason Machaya.
Work was carried out on the Gweru project by over 200 Mormon Helping Hands volunteers, along with 15 members of the community. The effort totalled 140 hours of labor! In partnership with the community’s social responsibility programme, the project was completed in September and the beautiful new home was officially handed over to Nkiwane and her grandchildren in a ceremony held onsite Friday, 26 September. Mr. G. Lungu, Edgars Regional Operations Executive, welcomed everyone to the much-anticipated event. The Mayor of the City of Gweru addressed the attendees, followed by an address by Mr. Musipa, Former Governor. Also in attendance were Vice Mayor, Mr. Atwell Matyorauta, Assistant Commissioner of Midlands Province and the Prison Chaplin.
Gogo Nkiwane, on behalf of the grandchildren, expressed her heartfelt thanks for all of the loving efforts of those involved. She has raised these children through much adversity and in very destitute places, after being chased off where she was renting because she could not afford the rent. She has moved from place to place for the past few years, and is happy and relieved to finally have a permanent home in which to raise these deserving children.