Many projects planned to improve living at Lelievlei

LYDENBURG – Lelievlei safe haven has selected a new management team and they have a turnaround strategy to take the shelter to greater heights.

Pastors Frans Bloem and Chris Black have joined the team and they will be working together with Mr Frik Rousseau. Lelievlei offers a home to the less fortunate in the area.

According to Bloem major changes are envisaged for the home. “We are planning lots of things to make this place the way it used to be and it is not too late. As long as we work together as a team and with the help from the public it can be achieved,” he said.

The plans include a vegetable garden, a day-care centre and producing items from recyclable material, just to name a few. “All the projects that we have in mind will be done by the residents because we want them to be able to do things for themselves and we plan to sell all the products we make to the public,” he added.

“There are a lot of residents who want to better their situation, this is the reason why we are implementing a system in which residents of Lelievlei can take part in raising funds for their home,” he explained.

According to Black, the day care will also be open during school holidays and will not be for children in Lelievlei only. “We would like to ask the public to help us raise money registering their children at the centre. We have a building which is suitable and we need support to make it all possible,” he said.

“The fees will be affordable for everybody,” he added.

“As a shelter we face many challenges almost every day and the only way to address them is to stand up and do something about it.

“We desperately need a fridge. When people donate food we have to cook everything and put it in the freezer because our kitchen is extremely hot and the food rots quickly. We are also in need of milk and are pleading with the public and local businesses to help us to assist the less fortunate,” said Bloem.