New Beginnings continues the good fight of caring for the needy
New Beginnings Care Centre has been in existence for the last 17 years and keeps growing in strength.
The care centre, situated in Commissioner Street, is a registered non-profit organisation that addresses the needs of the disadvantaged, not just within Boksburg’s borders but beyond.
Under the guidance of founder Stephen du Plessis, the centre has over the years opened its doors to countless destitute people and abused women and children and has provided them with shelter, food and clothes while equipping them with skills to enter the marketplace.
Counselling along with drug and alcohol rehabilitation is also provided.
At times it accommodates several thousand people.
The New Beginnings Learning Academy, New Beginnings Staffing division and the New Beginnings marketing division initiatives, such as the New Beginnings Incubator, were launched over the years. These also drive the operational funding of the centre.
Du Plessis deems education as the key to overcoming poverty and to sustain oneself in today’s word.
Apart from the Learning Academy, run in Leeuwpoort Street, there is an on-site crèche, to prepare children to be enrolled in local schools.
The Learning Academy is a learning solutions company with two divisions.
The first is primarily focused on community-based social education and upliftment initiatives.
The second focuses on corporate training, offering SAQA-registered unit standard learning solutions, learnerships and internships in conjunction with the various SETAS.
New Beginnings Staffing is a labour provider that offers an extensive range of related solutions. It’s five divisions include staffing, recruitment, human resource outsourcing, payroll management and training.
The New Beginnings Incubator is the special projects division of the foundation. This division’s primary objective is to initiate, develop and support new projects.
The Incubator drives new business ventures, social entrepreneurial start-ups and community centre initiatives.
Du Plessis regards all of these components as vital tools to combat unemployment.
“It does not help to simply take people off the street and feed, clothe and house them. You need to empower them, equip them and train them to rejoin the marketplace,” said du Plessis.
The New Beginnings Food Distribution initiative runs existing food distribution programmes and provides resources to many other organisations, including children’s homes, old age homes, other care centres and various worthy non-profit organisations.
The centre, which does receive food donations from suppliers, also runs a feeding scheme for the people in and around Boksburg.
“We have faced many challenges over the years, including a lack of funding and resources, but regardless of the tough times we have and will continue helping those less fortunate.
“I invite the public and corporate companies to feel free to come and view our centre and see how we do things and assist those who need help,” said du Plessis.
