Clean-up strategy provides school kit for volunteers
● M1M organisation launches project to help struggling Windvogel settlement
More than 30 children from an informal settlement adjacent to Windvogel in Port Elizabeth received school uniforms and stationery on Saturday.
However, it was not a mere act of charity. They had to work to benefit from the initiative by the organisation Move One Million (M1M).
They received the uniforms and stationery just in time as schools opened last Monday.
But with illegal dumping being one of the biggest issues in Nelson Mandela Bay, the beneficiaries had to play their part in keeping their area clean by picking up litter.
M1M provincial representative Bridgette Pieterse said their goal was to encourage residents to take control of their own lives, and their hard work showed they were desperate for change.
“We have maintained that we are not a charity organisation, so in doing [this handover], we are empowering the community to work for what they need.
“They were more than happy to work for what they needed, rather than just accepting handouts,” she said.
The children were given black bags to collect rubbish and take to the dump outside the community.
“For each black bag dumped, they received one token from us. Five tokens got them a pack consisting of a school shirt, pants or skirt, school bag packed with stationery and one lunchbox and cooldrink bottle. In total, they filled up 1,200 black bags.”
Parents — many of whom are unemployed — said they were grateful to the organisation for assisting them.
A parent who did not want to be named said: “I lost my job due to Covid last year and felt hopeless.
“I did not know how I was going to get even the basics for my child, who started grade 1 this year. Now I have hope again.”
The first garden of faithfulness was also planted at one of the homes on Saturday.
Pieterse said: “This is the first of many gardens that will be planted which in time will enable this community to become self-sustainable.
“My husband Norman and I received training on how to do these gardens and we will oversee the project.”
Pieterse said they were grateful to the Port Elizabeth community’s donations.
M1M adopted the informal settlement four months ago, but not without any hassles.
“The leaders here are very strict. We had to submit the plans for what we wanted to do with the community’s help. After our discussions we got the nod to go ahead.
“In addition to other efforts, one of our members, Merlene Alexander, serves the community with a wholesome meal every second Saturday.”
Pieterse said their involvement in the informal settlement was a long-term project.
“Our goal is to restore dignity, train and empower a hungry community to become selfsufficient.