Excitement was in the air in Nyanga as residents sang and ululated at an Open Day hosted by the Etafeni Centre on Wednesday 29 April.
Community members were invited to learn more about the services the centre provides. Its fundraising officer, Mandy Tshinyama, said it was the first time it had hosted such an event.
Beyond early childhood development
She described Etafeni as a multi-purpose centre that empowers the community. Initially, it focused only on early-childhood development (ECD), but it has expanded its programmes over the years.
“The centre was established in 2001 as an ECD facility,” said Tshinyama. “It has grown over the years, and now we offer a range of projects, including sewing, food security, after-school care, programmes for girls and boys, training and awareness initiatives, and so on. Everyone is welcome to join us. Many community members are not well informed about what the centre does. They think it focuses only on children, but we want to tell them about the other projects we offer.”
Supporting for people living with HIV/AIDS
She said a year after its establishment, the centre introduced a sewing project for people living with HIV/AIDS, describing it as a form of therapy for those affected.
“At that time there was a lot of stigma. Many people were afraid to speak openly about their status. Etafeni became a safe space where they could gather and share their experiences.” Other projects followed, all of them community driven.
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Empowering Nyanga residents
One beneficiary, resident Nolusapho Mbindela, who was involved in a food-gardening project, praised Etafeni for its impact on the community.
“When I started my garden, the centre provided me with all the seeds. Now I also have my own small garden at home. I no longer need to buy vegetables for cooking, and sometimes I even sell produce to the community.”
