Bulwer Park fence to get a face lift
The refurbishment of the fence will take place every week and the public is also encouraged to participate.
THE Jewish Agency’s Project TEN, together with the Durban Children’s Home will work together to refurbish the fence in Bulwer Park. The group comprises nine volunteers, all from Israel.
Speaking to the Berea Mail, Micaela Browde from Project TEN said, “We are here to learn, bring new ideas, but most importantly we want to help the children identify their own strengths and show them that they are capable of doing great things and they must never doubt themselves. Our organisation seeks to bring long term sustainable change to the communities we work in and also the lives of the people we work with.”
Browde further added that the organisation will be working closely with the Denis Hurley Centre, Icare, Umcebo Designs and other organisations. “In each of our centres, we work closely with local partners. Firstly, because we value humility we provide assistance that the community wants.”
“We know that understanding the local culture is a process. We also promote sustainability. We either join our partners’ existing projects or work with them to create new ones – with an eye toward communal independence,” said Browde.
Ben Ventura who is part of the volunteers said the project is very close to his heart because if it was not for the organisation, he would have been on the streets.
“I was very naughty when I was still young but because of the choices I made, I managed to turn my life around and become a better person. I want to impart the knowledge I have received from the organisation to the children.”
“They must believe in themselves and know that everything in life is possible.”
The refurbishment of the fence will take place every week and the public is also encouraged to participate. The Project TEN volunteers are divided into two groups and have extensive opportunities to travel locally. The learning component of the programme includes trips organised by the centre staff to visit local communities and sites of interest. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to travel independently on a bi-weekly basis.
Project TEN is an international development programme that operates volunteer centres in developing areas. It brings together young Jewish adults from around the world, to a programme that combines volunteer work with local communities, alongside service-learning in the fields of international development, culture, identity and Jewish activism.
