Marinkie’s past leads to opening of community centre
The Marinkie Community Centre assists the Mankweng and Polokwane CBD communities with a feeding scheme, rehab programme and after-school care.
POLOKWANE – “Twenty years ago when I was in matric I lost both my parents, so I had to fill their shoes by being a mom for my younger siblings. That made me develop courage and a love for togetherness.”
These are the words of Marinkie Community Centre founder Marinkie Maele.
Maele from Nobody Ga-Mothiba who’s also a businesswoman didn’t only get motivated to open a centre, but she also took a few children to school. “I saw the importance of education and made sure that some orphans like myself, who has potential don’t get left behind,” she said.
Marienkie and her team of 12 assist the community out of their own pockets in regards to feeding schemes whereby they cook and feed close to 500 children and adults staying on the streets around Mankweng and Polokwane CBD. The team also help addicts to fight common drug abuse like nyaope and crystal meth.
“There are days and sessions where we gather people, especially youth who are involved with drugs and we give them counselling and motivation to go to rehab. We also help high school learners to overcome challenges which they are facing, as well as working at a after-care-centre where primary learners are looked after, getting help with their school work,” she said.
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Marinkie Community Centre helps individuals with no money to print CVs to go for job interviews, as well as registrations for tertiary education.
“I have also adopted some families in the area where I’m able to share a little bit of groceries with them monthly.”
The centre has also started a school campaign where they collect school shoes which they’ll give away next year to various schools around the Ga-Mothiba and neighbouring areas.
“Our goal is to open a rehabilitation centre under Marinkie Community Centre which will cater for all the people around Limpopo and other provinces. Lastly I would like to thank the centre’s spokesperson Moshe Nkoana who is also the founder of Bakoni FM radio station which is based in Nobody Ga-Mothiba. We partnered with the radio station so that the community and those who want help can get hold of us.”
