Proposed multipurpose centre in Msholozi a dream come true to keep youth safe

On a mission to create a safe space for young people, a local man is building a multipurpose centre in Phumlani.
Bhuti Chester Themba, the founder of the Revived Generation NPC, a non-profit organisation, said his dream is to make sure young people are kept off the streets and empowered to be the best they can be, and more.

According to him, he was inspired to do this because of his background. He grew up in Driekoppies, a rural community, where he saw families struggling to make ends meet and the impact it had made on their lives.

The community experiences a lack of services, and in some parts there are no services at all; there are no facilities that cater for young people and they struggle to do extramural activities, except while they are at school.

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“I grew up being that child who always wanted to do something, but the environment was not good at all. I just told myself that when I grow up, I wanted to be a community developer or social worker.”

When asked why Themba chose Msholozi, he said it is because it’s a newly established settlement that is in the proximity of two towns. He said he noticed there was a huge mushrooming of shacks and a big of influx of people from various villages in Mpumalanga who came for employment and other opportunities.

According to him, he realised that since there is no multipurpose centre or any form of entertainment, this together with unemployment can lead to an increase in crime and the residents and the local corporations can be compromised in many ways.

He said he also realised that a lot of people are battling with mental health challenges due to a lack of employment opportunities, and he saw the need to make a difference. “The primary focus of the project will be on general counselling: financial, family and relationship challenges. Our project will include a library with a 24/7 Wi-Fi connection to allow young people to have access to basic information and to do homework.

Basic computer training will be provided and we will host social markets so that we can showcase locally produced products for the creation of local economic development. Corporations will be encouraged to showcase and sell their new products and they will be given a branded gazebo to market their work.

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“Our plans include a recording studio to produce, record and market local talents, targeting all genres. Monthly training and development programmes will be conducted on business development, co-operatives, basic administration, financial management, client orientation on business, marketing and branding, and we will engage the relevant stakeholders to assist with this,” he explained.

Themba has identified about 30 children whom he takes swimming at a local pool in Tsakani Park on a monthly basis. These kids were identified while they were swimming in a river, and Themba decided he would find them a safe place to swim.

He said they have started building the foundation of the hall, but these don’t include rest rooms, meeting rooms, rehearsals, training rooms, kitchen and verandas due to budget constraints.

“We need more bags of cement, steel poles and roofing corrugated sheets, two aluminium doors, electricity material, tiles, ceiling, lights, sound, instruments, studio sets, branded gazebos and chairs.”

If you would like to make a donation, contact Themba on 072 535 5288 or bhutomncaneprojects@gmail.com.