Boksburg Advertiser receives award at networking event
The event was aimed at encouraging businesses to support one another and the community.
Continuing their efforts to improve their neighbourhood, the Boksburg Community and Project Dunlop Zone held a business networking event where the Boksburg Advertiser was also presented with a special award.
The smell of coffee welcomed business people who attended.
After enjoying beverages, the stakeholders had an opportunity to interact with each other and network.
Boksburg Community Project founder, Helen Kruger, said the event was about local businesses and how they can support one another and the community.
“It is like the broken window theory; when we start cleaning up the community, we get more business investments, resulting in the upliftment of businesses and the community. The community will be cleaner, and there will be less crime. People will feel there is hope again.
“We want our businesses to thrive. We pay rates and taxes, but the councillors and government do not live in our area. We do. We have a responsibility towards ourselves to keep our areas clean and take a small action to make a bigger, healthier effect on our community,” said Kruger.
She said she and Desiree Lee started the project in June last year.
“I walked in the parks and thought, why is nobody cleaning the pavements? There is litter everywhere. This is depressing.
“I saw a snippet posted by one of my friends, ‘a thought without action is just another thought’.
“I then went to two men who desperately needed to feed their families and asked them to help me clean. We then requested residents on social media to help clean the parks. Then we started getting together as a community and realised we could make a difference. We do not need to wait for anybody.
“I approached Dunlop Zone, and they were the first to be on board. They have been helping us with many projects.
“Every donation we get goes back into the community. This includes fixing potholes, painting the pavements, and cleaning areas,” Kruger added.
She thanked Dunlop Zone for donating a ride-on lawnmower to the BCP to assist them with their cleaning projects.
“Dunlop Zone always supports us because they know it is improving the community, which will positively affect their business,” said Kruger.
Award
Kruger presented an award for the Boksburg Advertiser to its editor, Lana O’Neill.
“This award celebrates feel-good journalism that makes a positive local impact through community-centred reporting, motivating citizens to act and improve their welfare and quality of life.”
Kruger said they will hold more networking events in conjunction with CBO Connect, a community of local business owners in the Bedfordview, Edenvale, Benoni and Boksburg areas that gather on the first Friday of each month for a breakfast/lunch to connect and engage.
Dunlop Zone general manager Henri Munik said living in a clean environment makes life healthier, less stressful, and more pleasant.
“It can improve the self-image of residents. A neighbourhood that smells like garbage or looks like a dump is an undesirable place to live and work. Small businesses have a responsibility to give back, and by supporting community-driven events and programmes, we feel we are making a difference.
“We are excited to have the Boksburg Community Project as our partner.”
For more information, contact Kruger at (079) 492 2702 or follow the Boksburg Community Project on Facebook.
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