ALBERTON – As someone dedicating her life to bring about change through Ligstad in Alberton North it was with mixed emotions I read the letters form Cloe, Disappointed and Resident in the Alberton RECORD the past two weeks.
I was saddened by the fact that individuals can easily complain and point fingers to authorities who (in some cases rightfully accused) do not do their job by enforcing by-laws, maintaining the streets, etc. without them asking the question to themselves; “What can I do to assist and rectify this?”. On the other hand, what excited me about these letters, was the fact that people see the same things God showed me when He called me to get involved in the plight of Alberton North in March 2012.
Rightfully said, there are suspicious looking people and people with less than pure motives moving around in the area (as in any other area of Alberton). There are poorly kept premises and illegally occupied stands, where supposedly illegal businesses are being run from (as in any other area of Alberton). There are drunk people sitting around and relieving themselves in the public (as in any other area of Alberton). It is scary to move around after dark outside of your home in Alberton North (as it is in any other area in Alberton or South Africa for that matter). It is just so much more in our faces in Alberton North, because of the high density of the area, not more in quantity.
But, we have a choice to complain, avoid the area or community of Alberton North, and ignore the problems our once beautiful suburb of Alberton North is experiencing, or we can get involved as community members of the greater Alberton and those living in Alberton North, thus becoming the agents of change to make a positive difference in Alberton North.
Ligstad was founded September 2012 and operates from the premises of the old Eeufees Dutch Reformed Church on the corner of Van Riebeeck Avenue and Gerrit Maritz Street. It was established to be a community project in the heart of Alberton North, with the purpose to render community development services to this community from a Christian framework and to establish partnerships within Alberton to pro-actively get involved in addressing the needs of this community. Through various partnerships with individuals (offering their services as volunteers of the project) and businesses (financially and actively supporting the cause of Ligstad) Ligstad managed to start making a difference by empowering those who are calling Alberton North their home.
After two years the difference is clear:
* There are less children roaming the streets after school, because they are taken care of at the after care centre functioning on the premises.
* The parking lot around the church and Fourth Avenue behind Ligstad is cleaner, due to the fact that a car guard is taking the responsibility of keeping his working area which he is proud of, clean.
* Lonely elderly people stuck in their homes are being attended to at Ligstad on a weekly basis.
* Community members who abuse alcohol, their spouses and children and who have anger or other emotional issues, receive counselling services from capable volunteers and take control of their lives in the process.
These are but a few positive changes the staff and volunteers are witnessing as a result of our community starting to take care of their own community and its issues.
Ligstad’s dream is to make a difference, working from the inside out, making use of resources within this impoverished and neglected area, as well as from means and skills offered from outside the area. Ligstad dreams of community members who pitch up in their hundreds on a Saturday to clean up unattended stands, clean the streets, paint neglected properties, etc. just because they can and they buy into our philosophy that when an area is nice and clean, the criminals and bad elements have one of two choices: to stay and move positively with the change, or to move out and find themselves another place to continue with their business.
Ligstad can give down and out people who made and are still making bad life choices the chance to better their circumstances in a legal manner to create a positive future for them and their families. They will also get the opportunity to plough back into the community they once harmed. I would like to challenge the members of the community as well as Cloe, Disappointed and Resident to join hands with us, come with suggestions to pro-actively become the change in Alberton North
Alida Jooste, Social Worker/Project Manager: Ligstad
