The Sunday News
Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
SOCIAL responsibility has since lost its relevance in many organisations’ bill of activities and with the biting liquidity crunch, many organisations’ thrust has been fighting for survival.The idea of ploughing back to the community has been left to humanitarian organisations which have also been hit by donor fatigue.
Life at institutions like old people and children’s homes that solely depend on donations has of late been a nightmare as they at times fail to know who would provide them with the next supper.
The situation has, however, been not the same with Gweru’s Batanai and Huis Ferguson Old people’s homes in Gweru where Gweru Lions Club has been timeously assisting the inmates at the two homes with food and clothing.
The Gweru Loins Club have been supportive to the two homes, providing the inmates with food and clothing as well as taking time to mingle and dine with the inmates at the two old people’s homes.
Outgoing president of the Gweru Lions Club, Siphiwe Ndlovu, however, bemoaned lack of funding but said the Gweru Lions Club has for the past few years, been making an effort to assist Huis Ferguson and Batanai Old people’s homes with food and clothing.
She said despite the harsh economic situation, the club has been sourcing funds from well-wishers and various organisations in a bid to assist the two old people’s homes.
“As Gweru Lions Club, we have been conducting various social responsibility projects and one of our main programme has been to work tirelessly under this difficult economic situation to try to raise funds as well as sourcing donations to help old people’s homes in the City of Gweru. We have been working closely with Huis Ferguson Old People’s Home and Batanai Old People’s Home,” she said.
Ndlovu said the Gweru Loins Club had not been working with society’s down trodden alone.
She said the club has been doing its part in environmental management, working in conjunction with the Environmental Management Agency to plant trees.
“In 2013, we planted more than 500 trees within and around Gweru as part of our contribution towards the tree planting commemorations,” she said.
Ndlovu appealed for donations from well-wishers so that the club could continue assisting the old peoples’ homes in and around Gweru.
Meanwhile, Gweru Lions Club recently celebrated its 54th anniversary, during which the club took time to reflect on several humanitarian activities it has embarked on for the past 54 years in the Midlands Province.
The colourful ceremony, which was graced by Lions presidents from various cities and towns, saw the Gweru Lions Club being praised for its sterling work in assisting the poor and the needy in society.
Founded and incorporated into the Association of Lions International in 1960, the Gweru Lions Club has been doing a good job in sourcing donations for the needy especially children and old people’s homes within and around Gweru.
