Project continues to blossom in KwaNyuswa
Having a front row seat to observe the level of poverty and its effects in the area she grew up in, Lydia Hlophe was inspired to start the Yenzanathi Community Project in 2007.
A SOUP kitchen, which opened it doors by providing meals for 10 families in the KwaNyuswa area, has now become a source of strength for 265 people who depend on it for their weekly serving of nutritious food.
ALSO READ: KwaNyuswa gardening project blossoms
Having a front row seat to observe the level of poverty and its effects in the area she grew up in, Lydia Hlophe was inspired to start the Yenzanathi Community Project in 2007.
Speaking about her motivation to start the project, Hlophe said she noticed many grandmothers who were left to take care of their grandchildren and the were also many child-headed homes in the community.
ALSO READ: Hillcrest Rotary rolls out empowerment project
Working as a domestic worker, Hlophe made it her mission to provide for these families with the little she had, also receiving great support from her employer who has since emigrated. “I was working five days a week. After finding my passion for the community, my employer allowed me to work three days a week so that I could have time to help the less privileged,” said Hlophe.
In 2011, the NPO was registered. “This opened doors for us as retailers started supporting us with food parcels and vouchers,” said Hlophe.
From humble beginnings, the organisation has grown immensely.
“We have an internet cafe, which was sponsored by the Social Development Department, and also trained five young people, who work at the cafe, with computer skills.”
They also run a gardening project on a land which was given to them by one of the organisation’s beneficiaries, Bongani Blose.
“National Development Agency (NDA) helped us with fencing the land and donated seeds and bought us tools to encourage the One Home, One Garden initiative. Recently, one of their biggest sponsors, Shoprite, served its first meals of fortified soup and bread to the Kwanyuswa community using the brand new Shoprite Mobile Soup Kitchen.
“Shoprite has been helping us for many years as it trained 20 people, 18 women and two men, with gardening skills and they also bought us more tools and seedlings when the garden project was first initiated.
“We make sure there is a meal for our beneficiaries to collect every day of the week. The produce of the food garden helps us achieve this goal. The organisation is my life’s work and the realisation of a dream. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Hlophe.
Hlophe thanked Shoprite for their continued support. To assist the NPO, contact Hlophe on 073 122 2632.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
