Sakhisizwe – Building the nation
An unemployed group of people volunteer to help the community with no personal gain.
A group of about 20 unemployed young men and women calling themselves 'Sakhisizwe' – building the nation – are using their free time to help others without any personal gain.
“We do not have money on our side, but we have skills and we want to use them to do big things for our community. We are not busy with anything, we are not working but people are living under such bad conditions and we can help while we have nothing to do,” said group leader Innocent Vilakazi.
Sakhisizwe, based in Shakashead, is made up of volunteers with various skills such as brick laying, tiling, painting, plastering and more.
Their mission is to help people, creches, schools, churches, old age homes and hospitals.
“People who are normally unemployed and have nothing to do will turn to criminal activities. This group is like a family with a shared mind set. We set tasks for the team, something to work towards and keep ourselves busy. No task is too big or too small,” said Vilakazi.
The team recently helped KwaMama care centre in Shakashead to help with some building renovations.
They have built a good relationship with the care center and have continued to visit and assist in any way they can.
“They brought their skill, muscle and loving hearts to assist us with building work and cleaning. We would recommend the assistance of this group to any organisation in the community business. Thank you Sakhisizwe, you rock,” said chairperson of KwaMama Frieda Bontkowsykj.
Vilakazi hopes to takes his team's helping hand far beyond Shakashead.
“It is touching to look at a finished project and know I was part of creating it and I brought joy to people's lives,” he said.
Last weekend Sakhisizwe and Bontkowsykj travelled to Driefontein where they delivered food to an elderly woman living in a dilapidated shack. Their plan for Mandela Day is to build a proper house for her and the four children she cares for. The people of Sakhisizwe have big generous hearts but limited materials and tools with no form of transport.
They do not ask for any money, only for building materials and tools sponsorship as well as transport assistance from anyone who is willing to help.
“All we want is for people to welcome us,” said Vilakazi.
If you would like to contact Sakhisizwe you can call Innocent Vilakazi on 079 657 7671.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
