Edenvale Sports Grounds get cleaned up

Edenvale Sports Grounds received tender love and care when the NPO Revive Initiatives partnered with Ward 18 committee member Lisa Atkins.

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On September 10, community members and parolees descended on the sports facility where they cleaned the area by removing litter debris and discarded items left by the community.

Organised by Lisa, Ward 18 environmental portfolio committee member, the clean-up focused on cleaning the area near the northern and eastern perimeter walls of the sports grounds.

She said this clean-up formed part of the ward’s monthly clean-up initiatives.

Lisa said she joined forces with Revive after founder David Heritage contacted her about the clean-up initiatives.

On the day members of Edenvale Lions Basketball Academy also lent a hand as they helped clear debris from this municipal facility.

Heritage said the Edenvale NPO’s main focus is working with parolees and ex-offenders as well as doing internal prison ministry work at correctional centres.

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He said the organisation assists parolees and ex-offenders to rehabilitate and reintegrate back into society and the community.

“We help with skills development programmes, small business initiatives and training of people,” said Heritage.

He said the point of the clean-up was to assist the community and help keep the sports grounds clean.

Established as an NPO in 2017, Heritage has worked in ministry with the Department of Correctional Services for the past 12 years.

He founded Revive in response to a calling to serve communities and people in need and give back where he can.

Heritage said the three pillars which make up Revive Initiatives include redemption, reintegration and restitution.

He said redemption focuses on helping parolees and offenders learn more about Jesus.

“Reintegration is part of the rehabilitation process and helping parolees on their journey rehabilitating. This is done through the establishment of support groups in communities.

“In that support structure, there is counselling, mentorship and skills development.”

He said the NPO focuses on skills development and aims to help ex-offenders become as sustainable as possible.

“As part of restitution, parolees try to give back to the community where they can. It’s important to differentiate between community service enforced by parole conditions and restitution.”

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Heritage said looking to the future, Revive has planned several restitution initiatives in partnership with Lisa.
He said in addition to helping ex-offenders, the NPO provides meals to those in need.

“For the last two years we have given warm meals to people in need and currently we hand out over 4 000 meals a month.”

When the NPO started providing food parcels in 2020, it started with 32 a month. He said the expansion was made possible with the support of the community and other charities.

Visit its Facebook page or phone David on 060 532 5000 for more information.

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