Mother’s Day will be celebrated worldwide on Sunday, 9 May. It is a day where mothers are honoured for their contribution to their families and the role they play in shaping society. For children who grow up without their mothers, there are ‘mother like’ figures in the community who impact their lives for the better.
One such person is Mandy Pearson who is the founder of Bhambayi Project, an NPO that works in the community of Bhambayi that focuses on empowering orphans and vulnerable children. The Durban North News spoke to Mandy’s daughters, Zoe, Lydia and Jenna and asked them how they will be treating their mom on Sunday. With a huge smile, they said: “Shhhh… It’s a surprise.” The trio said that on Mother’s Day they normally wake up their mother with breakfast in bed, thereafter they go to church and take her fora walk along the uMhlanga coastline. When asked if she was expecting any gifts from the girls Mandy said: “We have our house rule which is no gift should be bought for one another, however, the girls always break that rule. Each year I always get presents and hand-crafted Mother’s Day cards with cute messages on them – it really makes my heart melt,” said Mandy with a huge smile.
For the Pearson family, Mother’s Day is all about spending time together and listening to good music which includes dancing and singing. Even though Mandy will be spending Mother’s Day with her daughters and husband, she feels that guardians and care givers who are playing a mother’s role to children who do not have their own mothers, also deserve to be made to feel special. Mandy said that she is planning a programme to celebrate guardians and caregivers. “My organisation, the Bhambayi Project, will be building up guardians because they play a significant role of being parents to these children. We will be doing a shout out to the guardians and caregivers just to uplift them and show them that they are appreciated and we recognise their efforts,” she said. The management and staff of Tabloid Newspapers take this opportunity in wishing all mothers a happy Mother’s Day, for Sunday, 9 May.
