{"id":51309,"date":"2023-04-26T06:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/safe-space-residents-show-drive-to-succeed-20230425-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T21:40:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T19:40:58","slug":"safe-space-residents-show-drive-to-succeed-20230425-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/safe-space-residents-show-drive-to-succeed-20230425-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Safe Space residents show drive to succeed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Taking in the homeless and caring for them had always been a dream of Coleen Pietersen from Tender, Love and Care (TLC) Outreach Projects \u2013 now that dream has reached the top tier after opening doors for the homeless who wish to obtain their learner\u2019s licence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just recently, eight learners passed their learner\u2019s licence test at the City of Cape Town\u2019s Culemborg Safe Space, a first for the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pietersen says once they place the homeless into a shelter, their goal together with the City is to empower each of them with a personal development programme (PDP). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTLC hosted its first learner\u2019s class for those in a shelter,\u201d says Pietersen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur first intake was 14 of which nine passed. Our second intake is during the school holidays,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The learners\u2019 classes were facilitated by TLC Outreach Projects in Table View, and the participants were selected after completing developmental programmes during their stay at a City Safe Space, which included job readiness training, family strengthening, and life skills training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile this is a regular stepping stone for most of us, it\u2019s a point of significant progress for those at our Safe Spaces,\u201d says the City\u2019s Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are currently negotiating with external stakeholders to offer them the chance to do their driver\u2019s licences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will open up even more opportunities to improve their circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A further 32 will do their learners licence tests towards the end of May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven of the eight safe-space residents who passed are currently residing at the Culemborg Safe Space 2. The eighth participant was reunited with his family earlier this year, but requested to do his learner\u2019s as part of many other training opportunities being offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am encouraged by the eagerness of our safe-space residents to grab hold of the opportunities presented. It is not an easy road, but we are committed to assisting them every step of the way,\u201d says Van der Ross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pietersen says they are looking forward to the June intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the street to a shelter to job empowerment and employment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anyone would like to assist them with the drivers, we welcome your contribution. Together we can do more. Thank you Pastor Aidan Jeffery and Pastor Sharon Jefferey,\u201d Pietersen says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More about TLC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TLC Outreach Projects is a registered non-profit organisation located in Table View. TLC, founded in 1996, is a community-based project with the goal of saving and changing children\u2019s lives every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TLC deals with children daily that have been abused in various ways, and that have lived on the streets of Cape Town, some of them even for years. These children have taken drugs and had to live on their own from a very young age. They had to fight their way through a difficult, hard and dangerous life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation is trying to help these children and make their lives better. They run several facilities for their care and preventive programmes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help even the youngest children, TLC erected \u201cEducare Centres\u201d, located in the Table View Police Station, which serve the purpose of caring for troubled children during the week and preparing them for school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These children need love and care and sometimes even need to be fed after the weekend because they do not get food at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By feeding and teaching them basic reading, writing and maths skills, TLC tries to give them the care and the education they deserve and that they do not receive at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n