When the REACH-SA Christian church denomination opened the doors of Intsika Community Projects in January 2016, they had their work cut out for them.
Intsika is a non-profit organisation (NPO), aimed at addressing the cycle of poverty in the Greenbushes (Kuyga) area, through education and mentorship of children in the community. Apart from tending to the children’s nourishment, the project also addresses educational needs.
According to the Intsika project manager, Egnes Kandiye, the centre runs an early childhood development (ECD) programme, in addition to a homework and Friday kids’ club.
“The homework club, which takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, has a reading and homework programme, which offers assistance to primary school learners, to alleviate some of the academic challenges that they face.
“The Friday kids’ club is a weekly programme where children are given a meal and participate in Bible study, in a fun, interactive way. Through these programmes, we continuously conduct needs assessments and, where appropriate, refer cases to other stakeholders for intervention,” Kandiye explained.
She said the centre’s objective was to provide a safe and healthy environment for the children.
“Children who visit the centre are aged between two and 16, mostly. We do, however, get younger children who visit the centre with their caregivers, to receive food and diapers.”
Kandiye said when Intsika was established, there was a desire for an organisation which would grow work that was already being done by different congregation members of Emmanuel Church and REACH-SA Summerstrand.
“These congregants had been helping in Kuyga and Walmer Township, providing services such as soup kitchens, homework clubs and Bible classes, as well as donating clothes and school resources. We needed to be give back too.”
Next year, the organisation plans to ensure that its ECD project focuses on helping orphans and vulnerable children in Kuyga.
“We are appealing to the local community to help us in identifying children who are in dire need of ECD and refer them to us.”
With the support of generous donors, the NPO is hoping to assist these children for minimal fees with a strong belief that every child should have access to this important foundation.
- For more info or to make a donation, contact 041 379 2950 or email Intsikacp@gmail.com
