Parkwood Estate meets to deal with violence in area
A WIDE range of organisations in Parkwood Estate united on Monday night to plot the way forward in dealing with the ongoing violence in the area.
It was clear that the many positive activities in the area are overshadowed by the violent actions of a few.
“Parkwood Estate has so much good going for it that we cannot allow the few bad people to dictate what happens in this community,” says Fuad Titus, the chairperson of the Grassy Park Community Policing Forum who arranged this meeting in collaboration with pastor Paul Phillips of the Voice of Parkwood.
The meeting agreed to harness the forces for good to bring about lasting change in Parkwood.
This initiative follows the fatal shooting of 7-year-old Ezra Daniels two weeks ago and the peaceful prayer walk held on Sunday, September 17.
Organisations involved in this initiative include Foundation for Positive Change, operating a halfway house for recovering drug addicts and a rehabilitation programme; Embrace Seniors; Reconciliation ministries; Save a Child, an organisation helping youth; Parkwood Community Choir; Dream Team; Moving Forward, a child and youth upliftment organisation – all bringing positive input to the area.
The initiative is supported by the ward councillor William Akim.
It was agreed that while the community needs to address the gangs and drug problem, more emphasis should be placed on the positive work being done in the area and an appeal was made that the media should be requested to give more prominence to the good than the evil.
The dictum that evil triumphs when good people do nothing is driving this group to a plan of action that will speak peace and harmony in Parkwood Estate.
Many more stakeholders in the area will be drawn in, such as the Department of Social Development of both the province and the city; the housing department; school principals and other faith-based organisations.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday October 4. The venue is to be advised.
For further comment please contact Fuad Titus, chairperson of the Grassy Park CPF at 078 637 3225 or Ps Paul Phillips at 074 689 6924/ 073 309 9705. Philip Bam Grassy Park Community Policing Forum