Joy and happiness abounded when caretakers and beneficiaries convened at Matsa Children Resource Centre to launch the newly built structure on Friday last week.

The centre's new building was started in 2010 with financial assistance from the Centre for the Positive Care (CPC) in Sibasa. According to the Matsa Children Resource Centre's manager, Ms Elinah Musingadi, the CPC generated funds for all the material needed to complete a multi-purpose hall, two offices and a library., but there was no money to pay the builders, so community members who possessed building expertise were roped in and the structure was finally completed in August this year.

"Eskom also donated R14 000 for the purpose of wiring the place and electricity activation," said Ms Musingadi. "We thank them because we wouldn't have gone this far without their help."

Matsa Children Resource Centre cares for 158 children, who are between 0 and 18 years of age. These children are orphans and vulnerable children who come to the centre after school. The centre engages them in cultural and sports activities such as soccer, malende dance, and also helps them with their home-based school work. Matsa Children Resource Centre started with only 46 children in a small house at an old clinic in 2003.

Deputy manager of education for Nzhelele West Circuit Mr Steven Ravele indicated that the Bill of Rights stated clearly that everyone had a right to education. "Structures such as Matsa care centre help to ignite a sense of self-confidence in children who are classified as orphans and vulnerable children," Ravele said.

The centre is facing challenges such as a lack of water, food and toilets. "We've written many requests to the Makhado Municipality to bring us water in tanks, like they do for the local schools, but no response has been given to us," said Ms Musingadi.

Rofhiwa Rudzani (17) is one of the youths who continues to benefit from the centre and she says that she has learnt a lot after she joined the centre in 2007.