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Magical Moments is a registered, non-profit charitable organisation, proudly created with love in South Africa.
We create "Magical Moments" & "Extra-ordinary days" for abandoned, abused, disadvantaged, neglected, orphaned, underprivileged and vulnerable children in the greater Johannesburg area - of all cultures, colours, race and religions - "rainbow children".
We put smiles on little faces, treats in little tummies and tickle little taste buds.
While we understand the desperate need for basic essentials such as food, education and shelter, we have focused "on the moment", so to speak. To take light where there is darkness. To take love and laughter, fun and happiness, smiles and playfulness and just perhaps to create an "Extra-ordinary Day" – a day different from yesterday and different from tomorrow - an escape and distraction from the every day harsh realities of life. Children need to be children.
Most of these children come from severely financially disadvantaged and impoverished backgrounds and many experience extreme trauma and difficulty through poverty, neglect and abuse. We give the children a moment to escape from the harsh world that they come from and live in - a chance to play, to laugh, to have fun, to indulge, to celebrate, to be children and for a magical moment, perhaps to forget.
We give children the chance to experience things that they perhaps would ordinarily not be able to because of their circumstances, exposing them to a world beyond their own.
We are not restricted to supporting any one particular organisation; we go where the children are, wherever a Magical Moment is needed, focusing predominantly on ECD (early childhood development, children aged 2-7 years) and children up to 12 years of age.
Since March 2004, each and every month, we have indulged children with what we call "treats" - goodies that are not on an official charity "shopping list" as such – chocolates, sweets, cakes, cool drinks, Easter egg
s, hot cross buns, doughnuts, cupcakes, chips, crisps, boerewors rolls, hamburgers, hot dogs, jelly & custard, flapjacks, fruit, ice lollies, ice cream, muffins, flavoured milk, yoghurt, French toast and honey, fish fingers, oven baked chips, stew, candy floss, popcorn, pizza, Soft Serve ice cream & flake, Slush Puppy, Chocolate Fountain, Mini Melts, Italian Kisses, KFC, McDonald’s, Chicken Licken etc. We have also taken along items that have been generously donated by family and friends which have included TVs, computers, microwaves, stoves, washing machines, chest freezer, tables and chairs, toys, books, baby accessories, prams, blankets, linen, soccer goal posts and balls, clothes, mattresses and too many other items to list.
We have treated children from Alexandra, Berea, Bekkersdal, Benoni, Bramley, CBD (inner city), Cosmo City, Crosby, Diepkloof, Diepsloot, Discovery, Dobsonville, Doornkop, Drummond, Durban Deep, Ebony Park, Edenvale, Eldorado Park, Emmarentia, Fine Town, Gallo Manor, Hillbrow, Ivory Park, Jan Hofmeyr, JCS (prison), Kaalfontein, Kagiso, Katlehong, Kelvin, Kew, Krugersdorp, Kyalami, Lanseria, Lenasia, Linden, Meadowlands, Milpark, Munsieville, Olievenhoutsbosch, Orange Farm, Parktown, Phiri, Plaas Doornfontein, Princess Crossing, Protea Glen, Rabie Ridge, Randfontein, Roodepoort, Sebokeng, Soweto, Sydenham, Tembisa, Tshepisong, Toekomsrus, Tshiawelo, Unaville, Waterworks, Westbury, Westonaria, White City, Yeoville and surrounds.
We also take some of the children on “outings” – to the zoo, ballet, circus, pantomime, ceramic painting, movies, Moyo Magic at Moyo Zoo Lake, Swan Lake on Ice, Cinderella on Ice, Camelot Spa, Lion Park, Ten-pin bowling, Snowscape, Enchanted Forest, Kinglets & Queenies, Black Steer, Doppio Zero, Hedgehog Lane, Mac's Party Farmyard, McDonald’s, Spur, Steers, Wild Waters, Wimpy, Gold Reef City, Kid-e-Up party yard, Yeesh!, theatre, picnic at Zoo Lake and plan many more fun outings during the forthcoming months. We have treated children to magicians, face painters, balloon sculptors, Eduzoo, jumping castles, water slides, puppet shows, pizza making, hamburger making, tie-dye, pottery, stretch limousines, drumming workshops and Zulu dancing and seaside holidays.
We have managed companies’ Corporate Social Initiatives (CSI) and made many Wish Lists a reality – tables, chairs, cutlery, crockery, educational toys, playgrounds, blankets, school stationery, school uniforms, groceries, printer/copier, toiletries, shoes, sports gear, tv, DVD player, fridges, microwave, stoves, snackwich machines and much more.
That's the background of "Magical Moments" - the stuff that childhood memories are made of, making children's wishes come true. "A Celebration of the Niceties in Life".
There is a child in every one of us.
With love, hugs and kisses and magical wishes.
ILANA AND GAVIN FRIEDMAN
The Fairy godparents
"There is something very special in each and every one of us.
We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions, the power to shape the future."
[Excerpt from The Starfish Story by Loren C Eiseley]