Latifah Jacobs from Sunbird Park, founder of Aurorah Kuilsriver Can, was announced as the grand prize winner at the Brand SA’s Play Your Part Awards in Johannesburg on Thursday 17 March.
The country’s official marketing agency launched the awards last year in celebration of 10 years of the Play Your Part programme which aims to inspire and celebrate active citizenship.
Last week’s ceremony was the culmination of the year-long campaign during which nine category winners were presented with their awards. Category winners received R5 000.
Jacobs was announced winner of the Poverty Alleviation category in September last year after being nominated by a community member. As overall winner she will receive an additional R25 000.
TygerBurger have reported on Jacobs’ passion for the community on several occasions.
She’s been involved as volunteer for the global movement One Billion Rising that focuses on gender-based violence, and served as food security coordinator for non-profit organisation 1000Women1Voice, distributing food to soup kitchens.
Over the past two years she’s been running a soup kitchen from her home, while also supporting several others with donations.
On Friday Jacobs said from Johannesburg she felt a bit overwhelmed by the response following the award, “but I’m also excited . . .” Plans for using the prize money include adjustments to a shipping container which will be used for various activities to help empower people. A tile floor in the kitchen and a freezer are also on the cards. Asked whether she will at least treat herself, she said she definitely wants to treat her team of volunteers. While she extended her stay in Johannesburg, her mother Jasmine was ensuring everything runs smoothly back home, she said.
Jacobs (46), who decided to completed matric in 2015 along with one of her daughters, and have done a community development course at Cornerstone Institute, started studies towards a degree in community development at UWC in February.
Although they will still serve food she wants to see her soup kitchen programme evolve to be only for those who are interested in participating in developmental programmes. “We’ve got to move forward.”
Currently they have a get-together for seniors on Tuesdays to do arts and crafts, and have lunch.
Plans for the container include a reading nook for school children to come and do their homework. During the June holidays she wants to offer a holiday programme for the children.
