Development Talk

Hands Of Love (HALO) gives hope to the homeless

 

July 22, 2010

soup kitchen made difference to people living living in disadvantaged areas

A soup kitchen makes a difference to people living in disadvantaged areas. Photo: Hands of Love

Mthatha is amongst the areas that contribute to the poverty and crime rate in the Eastern Cape. Many people in this town experience the pressures of life to such an extent that they feel there is no way out other than to live on the streets.

Mthatha has gotten a bad reputation for its social ills, but Mthatha youth have stood up to do what is right for their area and established Hands Of Love (H.A.L.O), an organisation that helps to change the living conditions of people in this community.

Initiated in 2009, Hands Of Love is a non-profit organisation that is aimed at reaching out to lost souls and disadvantaged fellow citizens of Mthatha. First called Mthatha Social Outreach, it was started by youth of Mthatha who want to give back to their communities and home town. The aim of this organisation is to show love to people who need it, and to make their lives worthwhile.

clothes distributed to needy people in the areas

Clothes are distributed to the needy. Photo: Hands of Love

The people behind this organisation are inspired by the Bible, which says:  “when we were lost the Lord did not judge, but showed us love and drew us closer to him.” They find it in their hearts to try and re-shape the lives of people living on the streets.

The organisation distributes groceries and clothes to low-income communities and children’s homes. They also spend time with children from orphanages, having fun and following the example of Christ.

The sponsor of this organisation, Sinethemba Dywili, said they serve soup, give out clothes and take food parcels to low-income communities like Phola Park and Tiphini.

Sinethemba Dywili is one of Creative Consulting & Development Works‘ friends on Facebook and when he informed us of the good work that this organisation was doing, we were happy to showcase it on our blog. If you are involved in any other worthwhile projects, please let us know, by leaving a comment below.

Filed under: Awareness, CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS, DEVELOPMENT WORKS, Homeless, Hope, NGOs, Social media, South Africa, children, civil society, community, development, initiative, inspiration, inspire, poverty, youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:54 am

What will you do on Mandela Day?

 

July 16, 2010

Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island. Photo: Samantha Marx

Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island. Photo: Samantha Marx

On International Nelson Mandela Day, people all over the world are meant to spend 67 minutes doing something to benefit their community. Creative Consulting & Development Works has some ideas of how you can get involved in your community as well.

The man behind this day

Anti-apartheid activist and first democratic president of South Africa, Nelson Rholihlala Mandela,  is the inspiration behind this day, because even though he was jailed by the apartheid government for 27 years, he never saw his release from prison as time for revenge. After his release on 11 February 1990 he advocated peace, reconciliation and the rebuilding of the South African nation.

According to www.mandeladay.com Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. “All we are asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community.”

What can you do?

Creative Consulting & Development Works, as a research, evaluation and communications consultancy working in a development context, often deals with non-profit organisations and we would like to suggest that you volunteer to help some of them on Mandela Day or any other day of the year!

Mamelani Projects

Development Works conceptualised and facilitated a strategic planning workshop for Mamelani Projects in 2007. This Voluntary Association runs health education and youth development projects locally in various communities. Contact them on info@mamelani.org.zaor phone 021 448 2725.

Networking AIDS Community of South Africa

One of the Community Based Organisations in the NACOSA network.

One of the Community Based Organisations in the NACOSA network.

NACOSA is a national civil society network of HIV and AIDS and TB role players, which includes NGOs, CBOs, FBOs and other developmental organisations, who seek to contribute to reducing the impact of HIV and AIDS.

Development Works did an evaluation for NACOSA of one of four components to the Global Fund Project, the Community Based Response to HIV/AIDS, as well as an evaluation of NACOSA’s 3-Tier Model, which comprises capacity building, networking and promoting dialogue.

You can contact NACOSA at info@nacosa.org.za or on 021 461 7348 and perhaps get involved in a Community Based Organisation close to you.

Adonis Musati Project

Recently, Development Works presented a Preferred Futuring workshop to the NGO for refugees, Adonis Musati Project. AMP provides clothing, blankets, food packs, medicine and toiletries to refugees and help them to compile and send out their CVs. They help refugees to access transport, accommodation and training. The Adonis Musati Project also has a halfway house for refugee children and single mothers.

You can help Adonis Musati by providing food or toiletries, volenteering to transport goods, assisting on week mornings in the refugee office, or making a cash donation. Contact AMP on 021 448 3348 or email Gayle at gayle@adonismusatiproject.org.

View the video below on the Preferred Futuring workshop that we conducted for the Adonis Musati Project as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.

Filed under: Awareness, CBOs, CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS, Communications, DEVELOPMENT WORKS, HIV/AIDS, History, Hope, NGOs, Refugees, Research, South Africa, Videos, access to health care, civil society, community, democracy, development, education, forgiveness, healthcare, initiative, inspiration, inspire, peace, politics, reconciliation, rights, ubuntu, xenophobia, youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:42 am

Hope and Steet Soccer for People Living on the Streets

 

June 22, 2010

Martin Africa, the captain of South Africa's homeless street soccer team

Martin Africa, the captain of South Africa's homeless street soccer team

“Hope is the most important thing in life. If you give up on hope, you might as well die.”

These are the words of Martin Africa, the captain of South Africa’s homeless street soccer team that represented our country at the Homeless World Cup last year.

The Homeless World Cup was started in 2003 and has brought 4-a-side street soccer to an international stage. In each competing country, players are drawn from grassroots soccer initiatives that engage destitute people who would otherwise be involved in gangsterism, drugs and crime. A prerequisite for these players to represent their countries at the World Cup is that they have to get off the streets.

So, even though players are homeless when they are recruited into these teams, they have a little place to stay and perhaps a small source of income by the time they represent their country in front of the world. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these people, something they will always remember, that shows them what is possible.

A documentary film about the South African team’s journey to the previous Homeless World Cup in Australia, entitled Streetball, was produced by From Us With Love. It was shown at, among other events, the 17th Annual New York African Film Festival, the Arizona Black Film Showcase, the Africa World Documentary Film Festival in Bermuda and Festival Cinema Africano, Asia ed America Latina in Italy.

Watch the trailer of the video below and as Bafana Bafana take on France today in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, remember to always keep hope alive!

Streetball – Trailer from Demetrius Wren on Vimeo.

Filed under: 2010 World Cup, CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS, DEVELOPMENT WORKS, Employment, Film, Homeless, Hope, Videos, development, initiative, inspiration, marginalised, poverty, sport — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:49 am

Elano’s shin guards and fatherhood

 

June 21, 2010

Elano Blumer scored a goal for his children.

Elano Blumer scored a goal for his children. Photo: http://pesindeyizgs.blogspot.com

After Brazilian football player Elano Blumer scored a goal last night in the 2010 FIFA World Cup match against Côte d’Ivoire, he took out his shin guards and showed them to the camera. The names of his children were written on them.

What a wonderful gesture on Father’s Day! Creative Consulting & Development Works acknowledges the potential that fathers have to protect and ensure the healthy, positive development of children. This is emphasised by the African Fathers Initiative which “aims to be a continent-wide institutional base for the generation, collection, and dissemination of knowledge and skills about responsible and involved fatherhood across all races and faiths in Africa”. Their website provides research on fatherhood in Africa, refers to policy involving fathers and gives tips to fathers on how to perform their role well. This includes how to tell your children you love them, how to raise a daughter and how to support your pregnant partner.

Teenage Tata - HSRC Press

Teenage Tata - HSRC Press

In South Africa the Human Sciences Research Council runs The Fatherhood Project. This Project aims to, among other things, “rally peer professional support to enable men to be more involved in children’s lives”. They recognise that fathers are often absent in South Africa and that cases of neglect and abuse are rife. However, the project celebrates those father figures, including brothers, grandfathers, uncles and cousins, friends, teachers and preachers that truly have a positive impact on the children for whom they are rolemodels.

The HSRC has published the books Teenage Tata: Voices of young fathers in South Africa and Baba?: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa.

But let’s not forget about Brazil’s  opponents in the game last night: We also have a story to tell about fatherhood in Côte d’Ivoire. Watch this video about a father’s love for his HIV positive son, posted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Living Proof Project on You Tube.

Filed under: 2010 World Cup, Africa, Book, CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS, DEVELOPMENT WORKS, Family, Fatherhood, Gender, HIV/AIDS, Policy, Research, Videos, access to health care, aid, children, development, healthcare, initiative, men, sport, youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 12:06 pm

Bafana Bafana rolemodels endorse 2010 FIFA World Cup Charities

 

June 14, 2010

Bafana Bafana are following in Madiba's footsteps by being positive rolemodels for the youth of South Africa. Simphiwe Tshabalala scored the opening goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana Bafana are following in Madiba's footsteps by being positive rolemodels for the youth of South Africa. Simphiwe Tshabalala scored the opening goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Media Club South Africa

If Bafana Bafana were not the heroes of millions of South African children before, their performance this weekend in the 2010 FIFA World Cup has surely cemented their status as rolemodels.

Simphiwe Tshabalala of Bafana Bafana scored the first goal of the tournament and the team eventually drew 1-1 with Mexico.

It is heartening to see that the players are truly being positive rolemodels. Teko Modise and Matthew Booth are for instance endorsing the Brothers for Life campaign on national television. Brothers for Life encourage safe sexual relationships and respect for and protection of women and children. Watch the Matthew Booth video by clicking here.

Matthew Booth also endorses one of the official charities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, called 1GOAL. This campaign is bringing together footballers, fans, charities, corporations and individuals to lobby and achieve the ambitious aim of ensuring education for everyone in the world. As many as 72 million children in the world are currently denied the chance to go to school.

Proceeds from the Kick-off Concert for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, held last Thursday in Johannesburg went to this charity and another called “20 Centres for 2010”, which aims to build 20 Football for Hope Centres to promote public health, education and football in disadvantaged communities across Africa.

You can also upload a video of yourself doing the “Waka Waka”, the dance that goes with the official 2010 FIFA World Cup Song, sung by Shakira, to You Tube to create awareness for the 1GOAL campaign. See Shakira’s video about this below.

Filed under: 2010 World Cup, Africa, CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS, DEVELOPMENT WORKS, Family, Gender, HIV/AIDS, Videos, access to health care, aid, children, development, education, healthcare, initiative, inspiration, inspire, men, rolemodels, women, youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:23 am
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