Glenda King and her husband, Mike, have lived in Richards Bay for over 50 years. They have seen the town evolve over time, from vast wilderness to an established port and a centre of business and industry. For many years, Glenda has run community programmes focussed on vulnerable children in the broader Richards Bay area. Now in their retirement years, Glenda and Mike continue to give generously of their time and energy to support a group of vulnerable children and young adults. The economic impact of Covid-19 has made this task even more challenging, with needs outstripping resources.
Mike and Glenda’s daughter, Janienne King, is the Principal of John Ross College. Janienne is yet another King of Hearts: she gives selflessly of her very limited time, trying to help individual students who face immense personal challenges. The local high school is technically an upper-tier school in terms of resources, yet many students still struggle tremendously. For several students, simply finding a way to get to school is an achievement. Hunger is a persistent issue and malnourishment impacts their performance at school.
Working with the Kings, HMA is aiming to support five matric students in the 2022 year. We will profile these students over the coming months, highlighting their specific needs in hope of garnering a wider net of support. The success of this initiative hinges on the kindness of the Kings, who continue to give so generously of their time to improve the lives of those in need.