Support anti-human trafficking walk

THE Umgeni Community Empowerment Centre (UCEC) invites the community to support and join the third Anti-Human Trafficking 5km Walk at the Green Hub, Blue Lagoon on Saturday, 8 October.

“Everyone is welcome to join,” said Gloria de Gee, co-founder of Umgeni Community Empowerment Centre (UCEC).

Andre Joubert, Springbok rugby legend who is going to make a guest appearance on the day to show his support for the cause, added his voice, saying, “If you think human-trafficking does not happen in SA, think again.” Walkers are encouraged to wear red and black to show support for the cause, and all funds raised will go towards the Crisis Centre as well as the other eight projects handled by (UCEC).

The Umgeni Community Empowerment Centre (UCEC) was started in 2003 by Durban husband-and-wife team, Rodney and Gloria de Gee in Umgeni Road. The De Gee’s realised that families are faced with many financial challenges to make ends meet and saw the need to start a feeding scheme in the area to alleviate the poverty.

They also have a crisis centre for vulnerable women and children, Shiloh House which was opened in 2006. The centre caters for abused women and children, human trafficked victims, sex workers and drug addicts who want to be rehabilitated. All services are free thanks to donations received. The centre as well as other projects run by UCEC rely on the generosity of the private sector and the public to survive. In 2014 the organisation (UCEC) became a member of the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Team in KZN, and that is when the Anti Human Trafficking Awareness Walk was born.

“Take a stand by taking a step,” Gloria encouraged, “join us to fight the scourge of human rrafficking.

Entry tickets to the awareness walk is R70 and are currently available at the Green Hub and at UCEC offices at 16 Mona Road, Durban. Registration opens at 8.30am with entertainment for the whole family.

Contact Chantel Pillay (Green Hub) on 0313226027 or Janice Ogle on 0318247951 for more information.