Women leading various organisations in Thembisa have joined forces to establish the Dr Essie Team Support Group, a collective aimed at strengthening community-based organisations through collaboration, skills-sharing and mutual support.

The group was formed to provide a platform for non-profit organisations (NPOs) to assist one another, particularly in areas such as compliance, administration, and organisational development.

According to the group, compliance remains one of the biggest challenges facing many NPOs, as organisations that do not meet regulatory requirements may struggle to access funding opportunities from government and other stakeholders.

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To address this challenge, members work together to ensure their organisations remain compliant and operate effectively.

Beyond administration, the support group seeks to empower women involved in community development by sharing networks, supporting each other’s initiatives and collaborating on projects that benefit local residents.

Members meet every Thursday at the home of Dr Essie Ngobeni, where they coordinate community outreach activities, particularly those focused on supporting elderly residents.

These efforts include arranging transport, providing training and offering various social support services.
Ngobeni said the group’s primary objective is to improve the lives of community members by combining the strengths and expertise of different organisations.

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“We are a group of women who run organisations, and we use this team to help each other grow for the sake of the people we serve.

“We have organisations that focus on different aspects of community work, but when we come together, we are able to share ideas, skills and experiences that help strengthen our organisations.

“Our mandate is largely focused on assisting elderly people because they need support and care. We support whichever member is hosting an event or programme because we believe everyone in this group has ideas that can help another organisation grow.

“Our members work with youth, the elderly, learners, soup kitchens and many other community initiatives,” said Ngobeni.

She added that a lack of suitable infrastructure remains one of the biggest obstacles facing community organisations in Thembisa.

“Currently, we have problems with space. Our facilities are small, limiting the services we can provide.
“For example, I operate a rehabilitation centre and programmes for the elderly from a residential property because we do not have access to dedicated facilities.

“We are volunteering our time to help the community, but we need support and funding to ensure our organisations can operate effectively.

“That is why compliance remains a priority for us because we know it is key to securing funding opportunities,” she said.

Ngobeni said many organisations continue to engage the municipality regarding available land and facilities for community development projects, but progress has been slow.

The group’s long-term goal is to establish a shared community hub where multiple organisations can operate from one location and provide a range of services to residents.

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“Our end goal is to secure a space of our own and establish a hub where we can offer services to the community under one roof.

“We are working on developing proposals to submit to the municipality, and we hope to see our services changing the future of Thembisa, from our youth to our elderly residents,” she said.

The Dr Essie Team Support Group comprises Mpho Molangwane, Dimakatso Rabolila, Thomokazi Maqumbo, Nonhlanhla Maphangula, Essie Ngobeni and Florence Maphangula.