Helping kids put best foot forward
NON-profit organisation Khulisanani, meaning to help each other grow, was established by the youth of Mdantsane on February 3 last year, with the focus on developing the community, especially the youth.
The NPO operates solely for the benefit of those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.
And with schools reopening next week, the young people of the organisation saw many issues affecting their community and decided to help by tackling the challenges.
Khulisanani runs a variety of initiatives and programmes within the community with the aim of uplifting and developing residents, while also creating awareness on social issues affecting their community.
Founder of the organisation Bohlale Buzani, 21, said their objectives were to prepare community members for entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, so as to address their socioeconomic challenges.
“We saw many challenges affecting the community, namely unemployment, poverty, drugs and alcohol abuse, crime and the growing rate of school dropouts. To break this cycle, we saw that the main focus should be in fighting the increase of [school] drop-out rates within the community; which lead the youth to criminal activities,” said Buzani.
The Daily Dispatch reported (Caring duo give poor kid dignity” February 2 2017) that Bohlale and another member of the organisation, Zamuxolo Rete, handed over a school uniform to a six-year-old boy who was in dire need of help.
Buzani said they had found out that a lack of basic school essentials, like school uniforms, shoes and bags, were some of the causes for youth dropping out.
“Basic human essentials such as toiletries, sanitary towels and a simple meal before they go to school had an effect too. The majority of the parents in the community use the children’s social grant money for their household expenses instead of school expenses,” said Rete.
Buzani said the organisation had decided to prioritise the school uniform and school challenge.
“We went around schools within our community requesting that the teachers and principals provide us with the names and details of those pupils who were coming from disadvantaged homes, but were continuing to attend school regardless of the lack of school essentials and proper school uniform,” said Buzani.
“We started with Zukisa, Phakamile and Khanyisa Primary Schools, Nkululeko Higher Primary and Mzomhle High School as a starting base. These schools gave us a list of 230 pupils combined, most lacking school uniforms. The department of social development does hand out uniforms, but seldom at these schools.”
Khulisanani also holds events that generate funds for the Back to School Campaign, like the Buya’mbo Cultural Celebration, with local entrepreneurs having the opportunity to showcase their artworks and traditional clothing designs. It was also a platform for the local art centre to showcase their artists, traditional dancers and the like.
“We also had the Project Khulisanani Fun Run in November. Other means of fundraising have been through selling food and refreshments at local events.
“Community members and business owners have also been contributing,” Buzani said.