Club brings hope to Bez Valley youth

Franco van Lingen is the founder of Revival Valley Youth Club and Welfare Centre based in Bez Valley.

Van Lingen said he founded the centre to support the youth of Bez Valley.

“I started having an interest in a youth club after working with schools in and around Kensington areas, where I was providing protein food for the schools.

Also read: Residents clean up their street

“I then realised that some children have issues which they would like to discuss with either their peers or someone they trust. I then started short meetings with the youth in Kesington and Bez Valley, helping those who needed help,” said van Lingen.

“Last year I eventually appealed to Clr Carlos Da Rocha to tell him what I envisaged for the Bez Valley community, especially for the youth. After a few arrangements with the councillor and City of Joburg, I was given a clubhouse to use,” he said.

Van Lingen said the facility was totally gutted and ruined.

“There was no electricity. There were no ablution facilities and there were no doors in the place. There were no cupboards.

Also read: The first Bez Valley Parkrun a success despite the rain

“The tiles on the floor and the walls were broken, and certain areas were littered with human waste because there were no toilets.”

Van Lingen completed major improvements to bring the building up to a habitable condition, including erecting a fence.

“The fence around the clubhouse is to protect the club from vandals who want come in, destroy and gut the place again.

“My dream is to help develop strong young men and women in this community,” he said.

“I want to show them that they are worthy. I want to show them how to discover the dream in their heart and achieve the dream they were created for. I want them to feel good about themselves.”

Van Lingen said he has realised the importance of helping others, and more importantly, he has learnt that it can be very humbling to do something for another person without expecting anything in return.