Tshepo helps the community
NORTHCLIFF – We find out about more about Tshepo Community Development Initiative to and how they bring hope to communities.
How do you compassionately serve the community you are a part of?
For about 14 years, Tshepo Community Development Initiative, a non-profit organisation, has been doing just that – positively impacting the lives of the youth, community and homeless.
The name Tshepo is of Sotho origin and means hope, as such, the initiative aims to be a place of hope, where individuals come for support, acceptance, inclusivity and where they get the guidance to enable themselves towards a future they want. As the organisation’s Nelet Kok shared, “We believe that our activities restore hope not only for our clients but for our community as a whole.”
The organisation’s mission is to develop programmes and implement initiatives that will empower people holistically in order to live independent, sustainable and meaningful lives. They conduct work in areas around Joburg north and surrounds as well as with schoolgoing youth and children.
It started as a central point in 2007 with a purpose to empathetically respond to the growing number of homeless people in the neighbourhood. It developed to serve the community, in ways that are practical and provide essential ‘services’ – like showers, food and social services – to the homeless community.
Through the years, the initiative has successfully been running four programmes. One of these, youth development, sees them impact the lives of about 40 kids, aimed at creating a positive foundation for them through an afterschool programme, each child receives a meal, and assistance with homework and other developmental activities. Project Ngonyama, a monthly event held at Windsor East Recreation Centre attended by about 300 children, teaches life skills with an emphasis on enjoyment.
Other programmes include Sizanani Garden, an organic vegetable garden, where they have partnered with Farming God’s Way, to bring seasonal vegetables and teach conservation agriculture techniques.
The garden is also part of a work rehabilitation programme for previously unemployed individuals. Lastly, a job creation programme that consists of three parts: work rehabilitation – designed by an occupational therapist and teaches general pre-vocational skills while working, enterprise development, and integrated social services, that sees the organisation integrate their services with different soup kitchens in the Linden area.
While every day has its highs and lows, they are grateful for the opportunity to bear witness to the changes individuals that come to Tshepo make in their lives. Kok added, “Whether it’s a shower, or a request for help obtaining an ID, or participating in soup kitchen, this is a step to look after themselves and to create a future for themselves.”
Kok explained how important showers are for the homeless community and, in 2019, the initiative got a donation of a shower facility that gives attendees of the soup kitchen space to shower and wash clothes. “A shower is a big deal for the homeless community, it gives a sense of recognition and respect.”
Since 2018, they have assisted 70 individuals to get their ID documents, have 488 individuals on their social work database and they currently have five micro-enterprises employing 18 previously unemployed people. During hard lockdown, their organisation opened up as a temporary shelter to give 24 displaced people a safe place to live while practising social distancing.
