TWO local NPOs, Kouga Social and Rural Development and Trailblazers Africa, have joined forces to refurbish a community centre in Kruisfontein, Humansdorp which they plan to use as a multi-purpose centre to benefit the community.
Joabin Saffier, the founder of Kouga Social and Rural Development, an NPO which focuses on uplifting the community and the youth in Humansdorp, and Marshall Geswint, the founder and visionary of Trailblazers Africa, an NPO focused on youth development and transformation in Africa, plan to revamp the centre, which had been badly vandalised and was in a very bad condition.
Saffier said there was no electricity at the centre, no running water and the restrooms had been vandalised.
In addition, the doors were stolen and all the windows were broken.
Despite the current condition of the building, which is next to the Usave store in Kruisfontein, Saffier said they were determined to refurbish it since it was located at the heart of the community, which was plagued by drugs and unemployment.
He said the community did not have a skills and youth development centre or a trauma centre.
Furthermore, Saffier said they did not have proper facilities for counselling to address issues like drug abuse, gender-based violence and various other challenges faced by the youth in the community.
“We work mostly with the youth, drug addicts, dance groups, artists, unemployed people and the needy so we want to transform these buildings into a multi-purpose centre for our youth,” said Saffier.
He said once the centre has been revamped, it will be used to host events and meetings and used as a trauma and counselling centre.
It will also be used as a studio for dancing, recording music, filming, and photography.
Furthermore, it will be used as a food and takeaway outlet and there will be a section for a charity shop, skills and woodworking, a car wash, tattoo bar and much more.
“We would like for the community to take ownership of this centre because it will benefit them and their children.
“The centre will also provide a space for community members to sell goods such as home-made ginger beer, crops from their gardens, paintings, needlework, and baked goods. It should therefore be in their interest to protect this building,” said Saffier.
Before their dream to provide the community with a multi-purpose centre can be realised, the centre, however, will need a lot of work, as the building needs power cables for electricity, a water supply, wash basins and toilets.
In addition, they need wood to build various sections in the building, doors, windows, an alarm system, water pipes, paint and so much more.
Fortunately, Saffier said, with donations and fund-raising attempts they were able to pay the lease for the building.
He said they plan to continue to raise funds for the centre which will enable them to begin refurbishing the building.
- For more information, contact Joabin Saffier on 078 125 4357.
