Making a difference in the lives of women and children
The Khanyisa Outreach Skills Development for Vulnerable Women and Children celebrates almost 26 years of service to the community.
Leigh Hodgson
In the beginning there were six keen women from the local community and a wonderful donation of eight new sewing machines.
This coupled with the determination to make a difference in the community was all it took for Marion and Alastair Brown to begin the Khanyisa Outreach Skills Development for Vulnerable Women and Children.
Khanyisa had its humble beginnings in Marion’s Assumption Convent School classroom almost 26 years ago, when the couple received the donation of sewing machines from a past student and businessman George Callipolitis.
Each week volunteers would join the couple in teaching the women a marketable skill, namely machine sewing.
Slowly, to the Germiston couple’s delight, their beloved Khanyisa began to grow, but soon they hit a stumbling block.
“We soon realised that a number of the women could not read their names on the attendance register or use the tape measures as they had no formal school education at all.
“We contacted our good friend George, once again, and asked if he would assist with a donation of stationery for literacy and numeracy classes.
“He readily agreed and the following week the classes began,” the Browns explained.
The women were thrilled and eager to learn and improve their skills and knowledge and attended classes each week.
“High school learners from Assumption Convent School readily gave of their time and knowledge to assist with the literacy classes,” the couple said.
As Khanyisa grew other classes were included, namely decorative beading, weaving, as well as classes dealing with a number of health issues.
Later, with a donation of three second-hand computers, computer classes were also offered.
“Grade 11 and 12 learners from Bishop Bavin School, in Bedfordview, and Holy Rosary Convent, in Edenvale, volunteered their time and gave computer classes once a week.
“Representatives from the Wits University Business School also visited Khanyisa for a number of weeks, instructing the women on how to create their own jobs.
“At the end of the course, they were tested and all received certificates of competence and many went on to create their own businesses,” the Browns said proudly.
In 2017 the Khanyisa Outreach Skills Development for Vulnerable Women and Children was featured on local TV as part of eTV’s South African Heroes.
For Marion and Alastair their work through Khanyisa continues and they are presently holding literacy classes for 50 elderly women, who are caregivers of their grandchildren and in some cases even their great grandchildren, after the children’s parents passed away.
Recently the couple identified a problem, “Many of the gogos cannot see the print to read as the muscles in their eyes have deteriorated due to age.
“To address this we are currently running a crowd funding project to buy fifty pairs of spectacles,” they explained.
The couple needs to raise R6 000 to be able to afford the spectacles and are appealing to the community for help.
If you would like to help or find out more about Khanyisa call Marion on 062 108 1731 or send an email to alistarbrwn@gmail.com
“It has been an honour and privilege to work with such special women and children through the years and we look forward to the future,” the Browns said.
