When Roger Taylor and Sarina Potgieter went to Cape Town for New Year 2009 it was the start of something very knew and exciting for the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Could we help raise/match the funding needed to build an orphanage in the poorest area of the Khayelisha township on A142B, Site C, Masiphatisane Street, Khayelitsha for AIDS orphans who had nothing, nada, ZERO aged from a few months up?
Abigail, the house mother was coping with up to 85 orphans daily in conditions of deprivation unknown to us in Europe. Six to a bed (its surprising how many kids you can get on a bed if they are small enough to lie side by side across it. No running water or electrics? And feeding them on thin air?
Two dynamic local ladies Yolanda and Nadia had raised half the money required from a group of private Canadians individuals, they desperately needed the other half. The MPT pledged £5,000 - not a great deal but in South Africa enough to build and furnish an orphanage!! Before leaving for England Roger and Sarina delivered a lorry load of goods to help Abigail out... cots, beds, mattresses, fridges, toys, chairs etc… and the photos have been coming in!