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| Mama Lumka |
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An incredible woman Mama Lumka with Edward When first you encounter Mama Lumka you are immediately deeply touched by the charisma she radiates, and an aura of warmth and joy that surrounds her. And if you are not instantly impressed, the beaming white smile and warm hearty laughter as she embraces you, will utterly captivate you. The open honesty, the empathy that emanates from this amazing woman, is overwhelming. Mama Lumka, herself a township child, grew up in the Apartheid years amidst violence, brutality, murder and abuse. She was often in the depths of despair but there is a saying that hope is fear’s best music and her own motto always has been “Success is in the feet – you have to walk until you find it.”  And that is exactly what she did. After the death of her only loved and handicapped son, Mama Lumka went in search of children that were locked up and hidden because of their handicaps, children that were abused, children that were HIV positive, or already AIDS orphans. All these she gathered to her, bringing them to her home in an old wheelbarrow. This is where her Creche project started. This amazing woman used her feet and she ran. She ran to collect money, she ran with her children to get medical help, she ran from door to door, family to family, ever in search the least fortunate of children. And she was successful! Meanwhile her dream of her own Creche and her own Childrens’ Home became a reality. What an amazing woman. An incredible woman with so many clearly defined goals. A woman who has made it her life’s work to be there for her community in their hour of need. We can only stand in awe of this woman we know as Mama Lumka. |