Growing up in challenging circumstances and facing numerous hardships, Maggie Bezuidenhout (69) from Jeffreys Bay has developed a unique understanding and empathy for the difficulties her community encounters. <\/p>\n
To assist, she has spent the last 30 years dedicated to supporting her community, with many people seeing her home as a \u201clighthouse\u201d during challenging times.<\/p>\n
After relocating from Gqeberha to Pellsrus, Jeffreys Bay, 30 years ago, at 39 years old Bezuidenhout promptly engaged with several non-profit organisations. <\/p>\n
While on the ground assisting her community, she co-founded four organisations, Joshua Project, Victory4All, Sunshine Old Age Club, and Parents Against Drugs Abuse, based in Gqeberha.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am aware of everything happening in my community and have seen the establishment of many organisations that continue to assist the community,\u201d said Bezuidenhout. <\/p>\n
She was also previously an active member of the Jeffreys Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the JBay Trauma Support Centre.<\/p>\n
As a qualified trauma counsellor, Bezuidenhout continues to support the JBay Trauma Support Centre upon request and is always eager to assist the JBay CPF. <\/p>\n
She also helps CMR, a non-profit organisation and Child Protection Organisation, with various cases in her community.<\/p>\n
Experiencing a difficult life with many stumbling blocks as a single mother of three and a foster mother of five, she said that her challenges have enabled her to empathise with her community filled with drugs, gangsterism, and dysfunctional families. <\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a difficult upbringing and past has been a privilege because I have been able to use those experiences to uplift my community,\u201d said Bezuidenhout. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy difficult life has made me into the person I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bezuidenhout stated that her strong two-way relationships with various NPOs enable her to request assistance in addressing the needs of the underprivileged in her community. <\/p>\n
Even though she had to shut down her soup kitchen due to insufficient funding, she said that she still helps those who come to her \u201clighthouse\u201d seeking food.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople can call me when they need assistance. I am always willing to assist,\u201d said Bezuidenhout. <\/p>\n
\u201cI thank God that I was able to achieve so many great things in my life and offer assistance to many.\u201d<\/p>\n
As an ordained evangelist with the Apostolic Faith Mission church, Bezuidenhout also frequently walks through her neighbourhood, offering prayers and spreading positive messages to the community. <\/p>\n
\u201cI use every opportunity to go out into my community to encourage people,\u201d said Bezuidenhout.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Growing up in challenging circumstances and facing numerous hardships, Maggie Bezuidenhout (69) from Jeffreys Bay has developed a unique understanding and empathy for the difficulties her community 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