MAKONDE – The power of Mirror has significantly changed the miserable life of members of the Sendedza family of Makonde-Jim Masindi, whose touching story was published last week.

The story about the unemployed sickly mother, her five kids and elderly husband, touched the hearts of Mirror’s readers, who called to organize donations for the family. Tondani (38) and her kids, Jeffrey (17), Nancy (13), Oriel (12), Thabelo (10) and Rofhiwa (5) survive on the old age grant of her elderly husband Sendedza Radzimisani (73), which is not enough to keep the family fire burning. None of the children receives the government’s child support grant because they do not have birth certificates.

All the children are still at school and none of them has paid school fees. The family sometimes runs short of food and the situation has also affected the children’s performance at school.

But despite all this, Mirror has successfully managed to put a smile on their faces because of the generosity of its loyal readers, who immediately extended their helping hands to the family.

Shortly after the publication of the article, Lufuno Singo (31) of Thohoyandou Block P. East called Mirrorto organize a visit to the family. She visited the family on Sunday, with bundles of clothes, which she donated to the family. Lufuno said she was so deeply touched by the story that she decided to do something for the poor kids.

“After reading the story, my heart was very sore about the poor conditions in which the family live. I am not related to this family and I do not know them, but I felt that my assistance will be needed to change their lives. I cried when I read that the children have no warm clothes while the weather continues to grow colder. The family did not choose to be what they are and it is our duty to uplift the standard of life for those who are in need. I am a loyal reader of Mirror, but this is the most tragic story that has touched my heart,” said Lufuno, a Manager at the Thohoyandou-based Avuxeni Computer Academy and an active participant in the ANC Youth League activities.

Another sympathetic Mirrorreader, Tshinanne Rantsana of Makonde village, was also so touched by the article that he donated groceries for the family. He presented them with 80kg of maize meal, sugar and meat. He said: “This was the saddest story of poverty I have read in Mirror. I was obliged to help the family, based on love and brotherhood.”

Clearly filled with joy, Sendedza Radzimisani did not have enough words to thank Mirrorand the donors for making a difference. “We thought we were outcasts, but we are now happy because we know that there are people who care out there. We thank the donors for what they did today and we will never forget to thank Mirror, the voice of the voiceless, for publishing our plight.”