Ten years of bringing hope to Kempton

Mould Empower Serve (MES) celebrated its 10th year of changing lives in the inner-city of Kempton Park at NG Kempton Park on Saturday.

The Kempton Park branch was opened on August 1 in 2010 after a group of concerned members of the community came together to address the increasing problem of homelessness and poverty in the city.

The range of programmes offered by the branch has since grown from the initial overnight shelter and food relief programme to include an after school programme (ASP) for the inner-city learners, job and life rehabilitation programmes for adults, and a variety of spiritual enrichment initiatives.

Under strict Covid-19 regulations observed, members of the organisation managed to put together a special service to help celebrate MES Kempton Park’s 10 years.

Helena van Blerk, MES Kempton Park’s branch manager, opened the short service with a prayer.

“Over the past decade MES Kempton Park has been able to establish a very strong outreach and social relief component that serves the immediate and short term needs of the homeless and unemployed community,” said van Blerk.

“Our town has increasingly been faced with the challenges of poverty and an estimated 800 homeless people are living and working on the streets.

“Affordable accommodation is not easily available and illegal backyard rental accommodation has increased. There is a big need to reach out to the children of the inner-city families as they do not have the opportunity to attend proper after-school centres.

“The pre-schoolers and youth groups form part of our expansion strategy for 2020 and beyond.

“We believe in the importance to break a culture of hand-outs. This restores dignity and self-worth. In 2020 our focus remains on income-generating programmes to strengthen the financial sustainability of the branch.”

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Rev Johan Kriger also shared a few words of wisdom and motivation.

“This is 10 years of grace and journeying with God and we are grateful. It is also a decade of contributing to the healing and improving of the vulnerable and homeless people of Kempton Park,” shared Kriger.

“During these tough times, it is important to take the time to reflect, revisit and redirect our purpose. May God bless MES Kempton Park and the bigger MES for the coming years and may it always stay relevant.”

Van Blerk also said the need for drop-in centres that offer meals and food parcels, as well as effective intervention programmes, is greater than ever.

“To address the beneficiaries’ needs in an integrated way, each beneficiary that comes to MES Kempton Park is first assessed by a social auxiliary worker.

“The most urgent basic survival needs such as food, overnight shelter, clothing, blankets and medical intervention if necessary, are addressed,” explained van Blerk.

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According to Leona Pienaar, CEO of MES, the Kempton Park branch has grown to be one of the branches with the biggest volunteer base supporting its initiatives.

“Thank you to all our donors, supporters, staff members and volunteers who have journeyed with us over the past decade.

“The support, prayers and help that the MES Kempton team and their supporters invested in the branch have made a significant impact in changing the lives of many people in the city of Kempton Park. We are truly grateful and hope you will continue to journey with us for many years to come,” said Pienaar.

Rev Janco Mocke blessed the audience with praise and worship.

Rev Hannes Windell, MES Board of Directors chairman said: “I believe that the impact that the branch has made is evident in the number of lives changed and the real stories that continue to be told by the people who have found help and a home at MES Kempton Park.”

Van Blerk said they are looking forward to the next decade. “As a branch, we dream of increasing our impact by helping more people. To realise this dream, we have purchased the house where we operate from today.

“Plans include building our own community hall that will be used for job creation initiatives and a second-hand shop. In addition, we dream of expanding our shelter facilities and conference room which will greatly assist with conducting our spiritual outreaches more effectively,” concluded van Blerk.

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