The Melusi Youth Development Organisation (MYDO) is known for the community initiative that it carries out in the Gomora informal settlement in Pretoria West.
Despite community unrest over electrical woes and relocation in May, the NPO says it is pleased with the progress it has been making thus far.
This year started with its Back to School campaign, aimed at collecting school uniforms, stationery and shoes to assist less fortunate learners in the community to start a new year.
Organisations including Saint Saviour’s Mothers Union and My Walk assisted in the effort.
The campaign has provided over 150 learners with school shoes and uniforms.
Sunbake has committed to support the MYDO feeding scheme programme with at least R1 000 worth of groceries for the rest of this year.
The feeding scheme programme supports over 150 learners Monday to Friday with at least one meal a day.
MYDO also launched a community garden in the settlement in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment (GDARDE).
GDARDE provided tools, seedlings, compost, watering cans and training in collaboration with the metro.
The Skills to Succeed programme is another initiative that MYDO embarked on earlier this year with Save The Children to train 1 000 young people in 2024 and 2025.
The aim is to teach young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the skills that they need to gain employment or start a business of their own.
During their Human Rights Day dialogue, MYDO and partnering NPOs set a goal to collect 1 000 sanitary pads to be distributed to women in the area during August.
The heated dialogue topic was “Should sanitary towels be sold or be given for free by the government?”
Interested residents can drop off sanitary pads in a box at the MYDO reception or for donations contact 083 734 2689 or email: youth.mydo@gmail.com.
The Sinvac Development Trust has donated wheelbarrows with water carriers to 40 MYDO beneficiaries including the elderly, people with disabilities and child-headed families.
The beneficiaries mostly come from Melusi, Zama Zama and Plot 30.
The second round of distribution will cover other parts of Ward 55. The effort, facilitated by councillor Yvonne Dzumba, aims to lessen the burden of community members having to collect water from water points.
MYDO received a certificate of recognition for its work and contribution from Deputy Mayor, Nasiphi Moya during a World Social Worker Day address at Unisa.
The NPO also welcomed a group of students from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden who were working with the University of Pretoria. The students were in the country for some weeks and worked particularly with MYDO Melusi 3 branch, doing extracurricular work through activities aimed at developing the centre in Melusi 3.
MYDO Melusi 3 branch was opened in March after the realisation that youth and children who reside at the far end of Melusi often find it difficult to access programmes and activities at MYDO main branch. MYDO took it upon themselves that without proper infrastructure in Melusi 3, they would still improvise and ensure their services reach there.
Currently, Melusi Branch 3 offers an education programme, afterschool care, a feeding scheme, as well as life skills programmes to its beneficiaries.
On December 8, 2023, MYDO and its partners launched a R2-million community hub and water system in the Gomora/Melusi informal settlement.
The activities and programmes offered include full-time social workers, academic programmes, community gatherings, memorial services, youth programmes, workshops, leaders’ meetings, church gatherings, and access to proof of residence, among others.
“From the beginning of this year to this far we are encouraged by the work done and significant milestones we managed to achieve. All our four programmes have been very active from afterschool care, the feeding scheme, sport and art, as well as the youth empowerment and entrepreneurship programme (YEEP),” said MYDO founder and executive director, Hlalakudi Malatji.
“We enhanced our special programmes such as the Back to School campaign, and a couple of events including Human Rights Day and Youth Day celebration. Not to mention empowerment programmes, such as skills to succeed, leadership and bursaries we managed to facilitate and help our youth.
“All thanks to all partners, stakeholders, donors, beneficiaries, community members and everyone who contributed in one way or the other. This achievement couldn’t have been possible without you. Thank you for your support. Let’s engage further in community matters and develop our youth and children,” Malatji said.
For more information contact 083 734 2689 or email youth.mydo@gmail.com.
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