MONTAGU – In the heart of Montagu, Change Agents SA shines brightly as a beacon of hope and transformation.

Founded in 2012 by lifelong community advocate Olin Kiewiets, the organisation is dedicated to community development with a particular focus on holistic family programmes and substance-abuse disorder interventions.

Unwavering in his mission, he explained: “We wanted to ensure there were substance-abuse disorder interventions, based on a need that was clearly there, and we have been steadfast in our mission ever since.”

From humble beginnings the organisation, which initially conducted its outreach by sitting on the grass and speaking directly to active drug users, has helped so many achieve their goals through a personal and compassionate approach. This method has set Change Agents SA apart from other organisations, emphasising the importance of working with families, not just individuals, to ensure they are emotionally, physically and spiritually well.

In celebration of Youth Month, Change Agents SA hosted a series of impactful workshops aimed at healing, empowering and inspiring the youth and communities of Montagu, Ashton Cogmanskloof and Ashton Zolani. These were held in collaboration with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Montagu-Ashton Tourism Association and ACVV Montagu.

Diverse backgrounds, age groups brought together

Kiewiets expressed his gratitude for the collaborative efforts. “We were blessed to have three different workshops, in three different communities. The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation is always on the cutting edge of bringing and facilitating healing to the wounded and opening the minds of the narrow-minded ones. Thank you, once again, for a much-needed workshop.”

The workshops brought people together from diverse backgrounds and age groups for honest, open and robust discussions about justice, healing and active citizenship.

Emphasising the importance of reflection as part of the healing process, Kiewiets remarked: “We have to reflect on the past because it’s part of our history. But we will not dwell on the past because it makes us lose focus on the future. Reflection is part of getting justice, and we all need justice and reflection before we can heal.”

responsibility for own future

• Participants were encouraged to move beyond blaming external forces and take responsibility for their own future. Kiewiets highlighted the workshop’s impact. “The participants took it upon themselves not to blame the government, politicians, leaders or systems anymore,” he said. “They will be active citizens and go and get it themselves, .”

As Change Agents SA continues to grow and evolve it remains committed to registering its programmes with the Department of Community Services to legitimise itself further and expand its impact.

Kiewiets is optimistic about the future, emphasising the importance of ongoing community support and partnership. “We want to change lives, impact minds, .and change trajectories.

“With the continuous support of our partners and the dedication of our communities we are confident we can achieve great things together.” In celebrating Youth Month, Change Agents SA also laid the groundwork for a brighter, more empowered future for youth and the communities it serves.