CSC Midrand plans to bring change in local communities
EBONY PARK – The Midrand Christian Social Council is appealing to business and community members to support them in restoring the hope of disadvantaged children.
The Christian Social Council (CSC) of Midrand’s child protection unit held a breakfast meeting in Ebony Park with stakeholders, community members and donors on 25 March to communicate the work that they do and their needs.
The non-profit organisation operates in areas with disadvantaged communities such as Ivory Park, Ebony Park and Kaalfontein. Social work manager for CSC Midrand, Prisca Mathabatha said that through the event they hoped to involve the community and highlight some of their challenges.
“As much as we are a child protection organisation we want our community members to become child care ambassadors, so that they can assist us. “Child protection must be everyone’s job as the saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’.
” Francois Schoombee, head of marketing and fundraising, also explained what social ills impact children in their area of service. “After speaking to some of the people and also being involved for three years with children’s programmes to help them with homework, skills development, art and photography, I got to know the children and hear from their hearts as well. That made me realise that we need to give them back their hope for their future.”
Schoombee added that they have a vision as to how they would expand their reach in the area and they appeal to the community and businesses to join in. Through having a second-hand clothing store, raising funds to hire more social workers, opening an early childhood development centre and building a safe house to assist children over 18 years old after they leave their foster care, they would be able to change the lives of the children.
“We need to create that facility here to accommodate them for three years and get businesses and all the networks to get them bursaries, get them jobs and give them hope,” Schoombee said. “If businesses have any corporate social investment money to invest, and they need points for social upliftment, this is the place to do it.”
Details: Visit www.cscmidrand.co.za or contact Brenda Nkomo (secretary) on 064 886 4031 for more information.
