Community project reflects on a year of uplifting our city

After over a year, the founder of the Boksburg Community Project (BCP), Helen Kruger, can testify that running a town clean-up project is no small feat.

The BCP is a grassroots non-profit initiative driven by passionate residents dedicated to making a tangible difference in the community.

Kruger said what started as a simple initiative to clean and maintain the Atlas spruit in Atlasville took on a life of its own, growing in ways they never expected.

“If you had told us a year and a half ago that we’d be cleaning streets, parks and even wrestling clubs, we probably would have chuckled.

“Each project we’ve tackled has felt like a new milestone. Every donation has been a significant achievement, and every piece of equipment we’ve acquired has marked a victory.

“From the tools sponsored by Worx to our first industrial mower from Evac-Chair, our ride-on mower from Dunlop and our trailer from Blue Outsourcing, each contribution has been invaluable.”

She said one of the BCP’s stand-out moments was the renovation and clean-up of the Atlas spruit.

“We rallied local companies and residents to join us for a big clean-up day in July 2023, when we focused on sprucing up bridges, playgrounds and paths, completing a litter sweep over a 5km radius, all on one chilly Saturday morning.

“With that success under our belts, we set our sights on the overgrown intersection of Atlas and Finch roads. I hit the pavement to get local businesses involved in our efforts. Consolidated Ford quickly stepped up to help, enabling us to tackle our first major intersection clean-up in September 2023.

“The support from local businesses and residents made all the difference in transforming that area,” explained Kruger.

Challenges
Following that project, more sponsors came on board, including Dunlop Zone at the Elizabeth and North Rand roads clean-up, Pizza Baby Atlasville at Finch and Brentwood Park roads, Remax at Third and North Rand roads and Elridge Shopping Centre, which helped clean and paint areas leading to Atlas Road.

“Every project has had challenges, but we’ve learned to adapt along the way. Earlier this year, the Boksburg Amateur Wrestling Club approached us to assist with a major clean-up outside their facility. The amount of rubbish and debris was staggering.

“It took us three weekends to do a basic clean-up and paint the curbs. A huge shoutout to Bennie le Roux, the club’s chairperson, for his incredible work to uplift that space for the kids and the community.

“We also assisted the Homestead Helpers for Benoni with cleaning another unsightly corner at Atlas and North Rand roads. Nina Visser and her team did an amazing job transforming that area into a beautiful garden.”

Kruger recalled their best achievement to date – the #67DaysOfActivism project for Mandela Day.

“We aimed to clean from the corner of Atlas and Finch own to Paul Kruger and North Rand. What we thought would be a manageable project turned into a 70-day commitment. The scale was immense – overgrown curbs extending 60cm into the road and an overwhelming amount of rubbish made it quite the undertaking. I’m incredibly proud of our team members Bheki, Mandela and Shannan for their hard work.”

Business support
Currently, the BCP is focused on securing business support to hire two permanent workers to help maintain cleanliness along Atlas Road.
“This will be our next big step forward. Every day spent on this project feels like an achievement. Many don’t realise that behind the BCP are just two people – a family – driving this initiative forward.
“Balancing full-time careers while continuously raising funds from local businesses is no easy task, including raising funds with our first-ever golf day. Some may call it thankless work, but if you understand our mission, you’ll see how rewarding it is. We’re not just cleaning streets and parks; we’re fostering improvements in our community.
“Clean streets create an environment where people feel safe and welcome to spend time. This boosts local businesses, allowing them to grow and hire more staff, which leads to job creation.
“Increased investment in our area contributes to overall community upliftment. We can reduce crime rates and enhance property values by maintaining clean residential areas and parks.
“Ultimately, it’s up to us to create the community we want to see. We all share a responsibility to ourselves, our children, our community and our future to be the change we wish to see. Let’s work together towards that vision.”
To get involved, call Kruger on 079 492 2702 or visit www.boksburgcommunityproject.co.za and its social media pages.

Also Read: GALLERY: Boksburg Community Project holds successful golf day