Each year, UNFPA staff members receive various gifts and the question of how to dispense with them presents something of a conundrum. Towards the end of 2012, Africa Regional Director, Mr. Bunmi Makinwa, announced that the items would be sold in an auction during a staff celebration of South Africa’s Heritage Day, and the money raised would be given to a selected charity. After much good-natured haggling, most of the gifts were sold and a total of R11,161 was raised.
The chosen recipient was the very deserving Othandweni (‘Place of Love’) Children’s Home in Soweto, South Africa, which offers a home to up to 90 abused, abandoned and neglected children aged 0 to 18, and ensures their schooling. Mr. Makinwa and a group of staff members visited the home at the end of December for a brief tour of the home and to hand over the donation. The group was met with great enthusiasm by some of the youngest children, with many hugs being exchanged. Thereafter, Mr. Makinwa handed the money over to the home and received their thanks for the generous donation.
