She wanted to do something to help so she asked her parents if she could cook for them. She did, and hasn’t looked back. The first day Xolisile cooked for and fed three children, the next day eight and now seven years later at the age of 29, Xolisile daily feeds, cares for and supports 107 orphans and vulnerable children through her Lesedi Drop-In Centre in Ba-Phalaborwa. Through all the daily struggles, Xolisile kept “telling herself in her heart that she would be able to help those kids and that God would help”. Xolisile worked as home based carer and counsellor for The Phalaborwa Foundation on a government stipend to feed the children she cared for. In 2005 the government agreed to provide some funding and she now works full-time with Lesedi. Lesedi Drop-In helps the children with homework, supports them with any arising issues, and runs drama, poetry and cultural activities. They also do income generating projects like sewing, vegetable achar and fundraise by taking their choir around the local churches. In December 2006, after two years of undraising, Xolisile bought an adult nappy making machine from Cape Town and has motivated five people to work voluntarily (until the money starts coming in) with the aim of putting the profits back into Lesedi to make it self-sustaining. Xolisile is currently hoping to set up a home for aids orphans who have no extended family to look after them.
