ATI Foundation collaborates with various entities in community upliftment project

A community upliftment project is well underway with Florida Lake being the site to execute these developments which the Florida youth will be able to benefit from.

ATI Foundation, under the leadership of Rupert September, has been instrumental in humanitarian interventions in Soweto during the pandemic, developing conflict resolution strategies to address socio-economic issues. They are implementing substance abuse programmes in partnership with Johannesburg and Gauteng provincial governments and are focused on motorsport development in disadvantaged communities. They also aim to bring infrastructural development for human capital and collaborate with various other entities.

It is believed that this privately funded project was supposed to start last year and aims to provide economic development to Florida Lake which will see the lake being an economic hub for community members.

“We are all from Florida, we saw and enjoyed the lake when it was still in a good state and want to restore it for future generations to be able to have the same experience we had in our time, while also fostering a clean and safe environment,” Rupert said.

According to Rupert, the hub will see the launch of a putt-putt course, fencing off the lake area, a gym, a restaurant, and a driving range with about 25 armed security guards under the flag of Alpha Nationals which will provide training, grading, and certification to 40 young people in the area to become self-sufficient to be able to earn an income.

In terms of sustainability, a percentage of the funds generated through the gym, restaurant and driving range will be ploughed back into the project which will see it going on for long.

In true collaboration style and shared profiting, entities such as the MMC for Community Development and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoos are all on board for a fruitful partnership in a bid to re-create this once-loved space with upkeep and updates.

Despite the challenge of the ward councillor not signing the letter of acknowledgement and organisations occupying the space illegally, Rupert said that they aim to make this a space for everyone and are liaising with the community through various meetings to yield optimal participation.

Ward 70 councillor, Caleb Finn responded to the allegations of not signing the letter and said that Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo must present the proposed project to the council following proper procedures for public participation. The project was initially presented as an approved private project, but Finn requires full information from senior managers before an acknowledgement letter is issued.