Positive changes afoot at ACTS
The organisation is expanding its reach with the opening of a second branch in George.
NEW, positive changes are taking place at A Centre That Serves (ACTS), a Toti-based NGO which has been active in the rural community of Nsimbini.
Spearheaded by Carol van Zyl since its inception in 2008, ACTS will now be overseen by Dominic West.
However, Carol has by no means broken ties with the organisation, instead she is expanding its reach by opening a second branch in George in the Western Cape.
She relocated in April, after some 30 years in Toti, as all her family have moved to George. “I will still manage the Toti branch and visit the projects we have partnered with in Nsimbini.”
Among the projects ACTS works closely with are Igugulabantu, the Nsimbini Information Centre and Khanya Langa. The NGO works hand-in-hand with existing community projects by assisting them with resources to eventually become self-sustainable.
“Currently, we want to focus on the Nsimbini Information Centre. Plans are to build a multi-purpose centre, a permanent building for a creche as it operates out of a wooden structure; setting up of vegetable tunnels and oversee a feeding scheme for orphans.”
Dominic is looking foward to working with ACTS. “Although I have not previously been involved in community work, I am enthusiastic as I believe I am being led by God to do great and mighty things. My philosophy is not to reinvent the wheel, but to build on the existing network with the common goal to uplift people. If they are hungry, we will feed them, if they are unskilled, we will skill them”
He moved to Toti four years ago and previously worked in the corporate sector. He is married to Debbie and they have five children.
With ACTS in a transition phase locally, Carol is also focusing on working closely with an NPO, Siyaka/Ons Bou in Smutsville on the outskirts of George. “It’s the only NPO in this area which is empowering the community to abstain from alcohol and drugs. There is also big school drop-out rate and high rate of teenage pregnancies,” said Carol.
Although the community has resources such as a library, youth centre and community hall, they have no hope. She intends to the change this by focusing on the younger children at primary school, by engaging them in lifeskills and youth training programmes.
“The need here is very different from that of Nsimbini, but I am keen to take up the challenge.”
ACTS Toti office is based at Unit 4 in Prospect Park, Coralgate Road, Southgate Business Park. For more information contact Dominic on 073-726-1682.
