Food parcel drive helps struggling community cope

There were scenes of jubilation in Upper Indwana, Cala, when 40 families benefitted from the Utshintsho Men's International food parcel drive to the area comprisng eight villages, on Wednesday. The beneficiaries were selected by the area's community leaders, and families with no source of income at all were the first priority to the cause.The non-profit organisation (NPO) founder and chairperson Andile Magandela indicated the organisation focused on grooming men to become a better version of themselves, but had to change its course during the lockdown to assist where it could. We are a

“Komani-based organisation which sought assistance from several institutions to make the food drive a reality. We donate in Cala particularly because our sponsors did not want to duplicate food provision in the same area, and I managed to identify an area in this locality. The day was a success as residents from the various villages came to collect their much-needed food parcels.”

Utshintsho is a registered moral

“based NPO whose main objective is to

” work with men so they may change for the betterment of society and themselves. The organisation seeks to

“ensure that men are responsible, the protectors and providers for their families and ultimately be a good example in the community. Men need to understand that life can still be normal without drugs and alcohol. They also need to learn healthy ways of communication, especially at home. Before lockdown we did our work through seminars where we would invite speakers to talk to men because we believe men are much more open when they talk to each other.”

Magandela said the NPO had to refocus its work since the Covid-19 pandemic and find ways to help people and the donation was one of these.

He said they also shot video clips creating awareness about the coronavirus and how people could protect themselves, while also encouraging them to adhere to the lockdown regulations.