Volunteers, parolees and municipal staff united through a cleanup initiative at Horwood’s Farm.
The Essentially Edenvale team collaborated with non-profit organisation Revive, the Boksburg Department of Correctional Services and the Edenvale Parks Department to clear and cut back vegetation at the portion of the park informally known as the wild side.
According to Lisa Atkins, director of Essentially Edenvale, the teams worked enthusiastically and achieved a lot.
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“There is much more work to do, but we are proud of what we achieved,” said Lisa.
She explained the day’s work formed part of Essentially Edenvale’s commitment to improving the park and keeping it maintained.
“We want to ens ure the whole community can use and enjoy the park.”
During the day, the volunteers removed weeds, overgrown vegetation and litter.
Lisa said a tree, which had fallen into the park’s river system, was also cut up and removed.
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David Heritage, founder of Revive, said by getting involved with the initiative, the NPO helped facilitate the parolees in giving back through restitution.
The NPO focuses on working with parolees and ex-offenders and doing internal prison ministry work at correctional centres.
It works closely with the Benoni and Boksburg correctional services.
The organisation assists parolees and ex-offenders to rehabilitate and reintegrate back into society and the community.
David said the NPO also assisted struggling households with food parcels; all made possible by donations from the community.
The NPO provided the parolees with a blanket, jacket, food hamper and other clothing items to help with their integration into society and to thank them for their help.
Alice Dhlamini, community liaison officer of Boksburg Community Corrections, said nine parolees from Dukathole and Germiston attended the cleanup.
“For the department, initiatives like these are very important. We need to reintegrate the parolees into society.
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This is a way for the department and parolees to show the community that they were rehabilitated.”
She said with projects like the Horwood’s Farm cleanup, community members can witness the parolee’s care for others by them giving back to the community.
Like Lisa, Alice said the day went well she said the department was extremely grateful for David and his assistance.
