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In July, Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust, administered by The Nedgroup Trust, donated R300 000 to Community Chest Durban to be used for flood relief. The generous donation will provide food parcels and blankets to a number of our NPO Impact Partners in communities affected by the devastating KZN floods. Masisizane Service Centre in Inanda and Amazimtoti Trauma Unit are two of the nine beneficiaries to receive much-needed help.
Masisizane Service Centre, situated in Ward 44 in Inanda has over the past 13 years provided vital services to marginalised and impoverished communities in Inanda, Mzinyane, Amaoti, Emachobeni and Ntuzuma. On 14 July, the team from Community Chest Durban handed over 100 food parcels to the community which was received with joy and relief as many didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.
The beneficiaries of Masisizane Service Centre include the elderly, disabled and vulnerable women and youth. This dynamic organisation has formed strong networking partnerships with several other social welfare organisations in Inanda and Bhambayi settlements in order to assist and empower these communities.
Services to the elderly include daily nutritious meals, food parcels, home-based care, psychosocial services, and recreational programmes providing mental stimulation, skills training and physical exercise.
Their poverty alleviation programme includes the distribution of non-perishable food items as well as skills training projects such as crafts, candle making, crocheting, sewing and gardening which could lead to job creation. In addition, Masisizane offers a holiday programme for the youth, providing various educational and recreational activities as well as a daily meal and food to take home to their families.
On 21 July, 50 food parcels and 32 blankets were delivered to Amazimtoti Trauma Unit t/a Turning Point, a non-profit organisation whose vision is to see a community with less crime and abuse. Their overarching aim is to provide care and support to victims of trauma and abuse and to facilitate restoration by empowering individuals, families and the community.
The increase in gender-based violence in the community led to the establishment of this organisation in 2009. Their services are not restricted to Amanzimtoti as they network extensively with many other organisations, locally and nationally.
Amanzimtoti Trauma Unit provides the following services to the community:
- Trauma intervention, support and counselling for victims of crime and abuse
- Safe Houses for women and their children who are victims of gender-based and domestic violence. These four shelters are situated in Amanzimtoti, Umlazi, Umbumbulu and Folweni.
- Skills training and empowerment programmes for women in shelters
- Educational and stimulation programmes for children in shelters
- Outreach and awareness programmes
Community Chest Durban will distribute the remainder of the donation as follows:
- 15 food parcels and 15 blankets to Alzheimers KZN
- 50 food parcels and 50 blankets to Velanjabulo in Umlazi
- 50 food parcels and 50 blankets will go to Umzinto Association for the Aged
- 50 food parcels and 50 blankets to Kingsburgh Child Welfare
- 50 food parcels and 50 blankets to Ubuntu Music in Newlands East
- 50 food parcels and 50 blankets to Ziphozonke in Umzinyathi (Indwedwe)
- 50 food parcels and 50 blankets to iThembalihle in Sankontshe
- 35 food parcels will remain and will be donated where it is most needed
Community Chest Durban would like to thank Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust for their donation and for their understanding that the plight of flood victims is not over.