The children of Appel Park need you
Jannie Pelser recently embarked on a project to upgrade and restore an existing but dilapidated play park for the children of these struggling areas.
Recently, Reverend Jannie Pelser from Rant-en-Dal Prisma voiced his concerns about the children of Appel Park and Burgershoop in Krugersdorp West.
“Nobody deserves misery, children least of all. Kids need open spaces where they can play and relax, where they can forget momentarily the desolation and anxiety they might be experiencing on daily basis – a safe place where they can be free to be kids again,” he said.
Approximately three years ago he established a non-profit organisation known as FutureWindow that runs various community projects. With the help of this organisation and a number of volunteers, Jannie recently came up with the idea of a project to upgrade and restore an existing but dilapidated play park for the children of these struggling areas.
“Most of us are familiar with the challenging circumstances in these neighbourhoods. Unemployment, poverty, hopelessness, addiction and abuse are rampant. But our main focus remains on the children,” he said.
Even though the Rant-en-Dal Prisma congregation equipped this piece of land with jungle gyms roughly 15 years ago, Jannie suggested that the deterioration is simply due to natural factors and the fact that very little maintenance was done.
He added that for the past few years he has had a passion to build something again, something that will make the children feel that they are indeed worthy and important.
“We want to spoil the children for Christmas, with only the best. Our dream is to erect something that will last, because they are worth it. After the erection, we won’t just leave it, we aim to maintain it as well,” he said.
He would like to see park benches, seats, tables, jungle gyms, pavilions, a stage, dustbins and a footpath installed in the park.
At the moment the FutureWindow team consists of councillor Trudie Naudé; council representative Brian Lira; community activist Gerrie Strydom; Mogale for Christ representative, Estelle Opperman; social development member of the ward committee, Rev Wimpie Wasserman; Mogale for Christ delegate, Loraine Gillan, and Letlhonolo Mokgathle from Westcol.
According to Jannie, the Mogale City council has given their project team the green light and supports the initiative.
“However, we have to take full financial and operational responsibility for the play park. Every R10, every R5 and every prayer helps and everything goes – any form of help,” he said.
He is now turning to the community for any form of help or donation to have the park ready by December this year.
On 11 November he would like to have a get-together with the community at the park to make sure they ‘buy in’ and accept ownership of this piece of land.
“We want Mogale City to say to Appel Park ‘You are important, that’s why we want to spoil you for Christmas’. I can already see the children playing in the park while the parents are laughing together on the benches,” he said.
If you can help in any way, feel free to contact Madelaine on 082 785 6397 or 011 665 2017 or send an email to info@toekomsvenster.co.za.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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