NPO dishes out meals to the Geluksdal community

Geluksdal – NPO Ubuntu Community Empowerment Centre is on a mission to dish out over 400 meals a day to the community.
The NPO has partnered with the Department of Social Development to distribute healthy meals, under the initiative Community Nutrition Development.

Centre manager Patrick Mabilane said the purpose is to reach the vulnerable.
“We started with the meal distribution two weeks back and are now serving over 200 people a day.
“Children are the ones mostly benefiting from it, but we encourage everyone in need to come too.”

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The centre operates Monday to Friday at 374 Uittog Street.
Meals are served from 11am. However, people are urged to arrive from 10am.
“It is important that people come as early as possible due to registration, taking of temperatures and Covid-19 regulations.
“We want to reach the poor, needy and vulnerable.
“Our main aim is for them to get nutritional food, while we also profile them as we have other programmes which we run such as skills development,” he added.
Alfred Janaros, chairperson of the organisation, said they are working hand-in-hand with community leaders to empower unemployed youth as well.

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“As an organisation, we provide various skills development courses and have an opening for free registration.
“Interested individuals can undertake computer, welding, boiler making and painting and life skills courses.
“The courses vary in terms of duration, with some running for three months and others for six months,” explained Janaros.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 35, with at least Grade 10, can register.
“We want to arm the unemployed youth with skills they can use going forward.
“As much as our focus is on the youth, we do not reject those who are above 35 years of age,” said Janaros.
For enquiries contact Mabilane on 011 732 3079 or visit their Facebook page (Ubuntu Community Empowerment Centre).