Move One Million movement gives hope
I WONDER whether I might bring to your attention this most interesting and exciting project that I read about in the Eastern Province’s publication, The Herald, of May 17.
I’m sure it will make a lot of people interested in upliftment programmes, sit up and take notice.
There were two articles, one being the Editorial and the second being an article by reporter Roslyn Baatjies. I’d like to quote from the Editorial: “What a brilliant concept the Move One Million (M1M) movement has come up with in Gqeberha. The idea of people earning tokens in return for such things they do in the community such as picking up, bagging and dumping litter (at a specified location), and then exchanging the tokens for items they need at a market day, is one worth supporting.
The project, initiated in an informal settlement next to Windvogel, has proven a huge success and has given residents purpose, pride and dignity.
The products they can exchange their tokens for include household items, toys, plants, clothing and food.
The M1M movement introduced the tokens project with the aim of helping residents to become self-sufficient. And that is exactly what it is doing – restoring the dignity of people who have nothing and have been forced to rely on handouts. Earning tokens for doing things that make the area they live in a better and cleaner place engenders a sense of accomplishment and pride. It restores hope in those who had none.
Earlier this year, more than 30 children received school uniforms and stationery. For each black bag filled with rubbish that was dumped, they received one token from M1M. Five tokens got them a school pack containing a shirt, pants or skirt, a bag packed with stationery and a lunch box and cool drink bottle.
“This is not a charity project,” M1M provincial co-ordinator Bridgette Pieterse said. “We believe charity creates apathy.”
The price of the market items vary but none costs more than 10 tokens. The project has been welcomed by the informal settlement residents.”
In Roslyn Baatjies’s article she elaborates further, mentioning that M1M partners with organisations like Animal Anti-Cruelty League to have residents’ dogs dipped, and pets received a medical assessment, a lead and collar and a bag of food.
The trade market days are held once a month on a Saturday. M1M finds companies and organisations willing to donate items, new or second-hand, which can be given in exchange for tokens.
All of us, if we have even an ounce of humanity in us, are concerned about the poverty and accompanying degradation of living space, which we see all around us. I live near Masiphumelele where there are hundreds of people living without jobs or income, and consequently very little hope.
The roads are littered with rubbish and I’m sure that eventually, walking past this every day, they don’t even see it, or care about it, let alone try to clear it up. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if M1M could adopt Masi, as they did the settlement next to Windvogel, and bring some purpose and dignity into their lives, as well as a cleaner, healthier living space?
I see that there is a Cape Townbased M1M founder, Jarette Petzer, who has commented favourably on this success story from Gqeberha.
I hope he reads this and realises that at least one Capetonian is eager for this project to get kick-started here. I’m sure there are many community-minded shops and businesses, like the big chain stores, who would be delighted to become involved in donating to such a worthwhile project. All it needs is an energetic and committed co-ordinator with several equally energetic assistants. They could move mountains (no pun intended)!
I look forward to seeing what can be done here in our beautiful city.
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