BORN Again Community Centre is a registered NPO and began several years ago with Queeneth Ncube who had been trained in palliative care. According to Nadine Wright, who heads up Nation Changers, Ncube saw a need in her community to care for the physically and mentally disabled children who needed safety and care. Ncube was assisted by volunteer carers who, although without training, possessed a genuine heart to care for the vulnerable children, who can fall prey to abuse and neglect.
The beginning of hope
From Monday to Friday, Ncube started housing and assisting the children in a local church. However, during the weekend, the church was needed for services, and so the children had to return to their homes.
Wright said, “There was a cry for food”, as Ncube approached the NGO that donated food parcels for the 22 children in her care.
According to Wright, the NGO donated a container on a piece of empty property the charity had acquired. The container was used to store mattresses that were packed up every weekend whenever the church services commenced. The new property lies down the hill from the church and served as quite a challenge for the carers who had to carry the mattresses up and down the hill every weekend. Fortunately, a company soon generously sponsored a double-cab bakkie which, adds Wright, greatly assisted the carers in transporting the children in wheelchairs.
In July 2022, the charity held a raffle at Watercrest Mall and raised enough funds to excavate and grade the new property. The charity hoped to build a community centre which would house disabled children and serve as a place for them to connect with other children in the community. “As this is so healthy”, stresses Wright.
Furthermore, the centre will host exercise classes for older people struggling with arthritis and be a safe space for children from the community to visit after school and in the holidays to play and do homework.
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Construction begins
In February 2023, Nation Changers visited the site, and Wright says that they realised that “A lot more grading had to be done…which [they did] over a few days”.
The storage container was moved aside in preparation for the new building. Plans were drawn up accordingly, and from there, construction began and steadily progressed as funds came in. The centre’s development is owed to the efforts and donations from both Nation Changers and other generous individuals, for which Wright is extremely grateful
She attests that “When it’s too big to do in your human capacity, it’s God.” The centre is built to house 30 children from ages 2 to 18 (and additionally some over 18 years with a younger mentality). The home consists of a kitchen, pantry, dining room, laundry room, staff toilet, two offices, a sectioned bathroom, a large bedroom to house several bunk beds and a large dining room. The bathroom contains a bathtub, shower, two children’s toilets and a large toilet for wheelchair access.
On October 27, the old church building was struck by lightning in a storm and burnt. No one was in the building but many of their wheelchairs and appliances were destroyed. This tragedy spurred a more urgent need for a new home, which was on track to open soon.
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Looking forward
Wright says that she looks forward to volunteers, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists filling the centre. She also hopes that further funding will come in, “So that it can grow into a magnificent community centre which will be well-run and fully equipped”, she adds. Many volunteers have come forward with exciting ventures. One landscaper will be creating gardens on the property. Another who runs an industrial sewing factory will teach the children and community members to sew bed linen, curtains and cushions to furnish the home. From there, she will teach them to make simple clothing patterns, such as for tracksuits for them to wear. The large veranda will serve as an activity hub for the children to enjoy activities such as colouring-in, puzzles and playing with educational toys.
Now on December 13, the property stands built and open, ready to serve the community well. The property is securely fenced, and Wright adds that it offers a beautiful, ‘therapeutic view of the Valley of 1000 Hills’. Since the church burnt down, the children have been living with their families, and Ncube and her carers have carried out home visits. Ncube and her team are prepared to house any of the children in desperate need of safety before the opening in January. Carers will also live in the home for on-hand assistance.
The organisation has lost many of their belongings in the fire and asks for financial or tangible donations to furnish the centre completely, such as wheelchairs, beds, bedside units, cupboards, desks, kitchen appliances and cutlery. Please contact Nation Changers at 086 112 2331 or info@nationchangers.co.za. Visit: https://nationchangers.co/donate/.
Banking details:
Standard Bank
Branch Code: 045726
Account Number: 250805057
Type of Account: CURRENT ACCOUNT
Reference Number: NC-Born Again
Nation Changers is an accredited non-profit, public benefit organisation (PBO registration number 930044846), offering Section 18A Tax Exemption Certificates for donations. They are also B-BBEE compliant, offering verification certificates for Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development.
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