Bringing back lost hope in Nkobongo

The Nkobongo Resource Centre has been a pillar of strength for many orphans and poor children in the township for the past 14 years.

One of those people is Delani Cwele (22) who is now a web developer and currently studying applied maths and computer science at Unisa.

Cwele said he would regularly visit the centre to do his homework. He also received food parcels and every year he was given a new school uniform.

“I was raised by a single parent after my father died in 2010. Life was not easy at home, we were struggling. However, attending the centre made me realise that I was not the only one who was going through a difficult time.

“We were constantly motivated to take our studies seriously and whenever we needed help, with almost anything, someone was there to assist us,” said Cwele.

He said the centre management helped him to get a scholarship to study for an information technology certificate from Richfield College in Durban.

“Without the Nkobongo Resource Centre I do not know how my life would have turned out,” he said.

Sphiwe Cele (27), who grew up without a father and lost his mother in his matric year also praised the work done at the centre, saying that without their support he would not have completed high school.

“The centre also helped me to secure a scholarship and I now have a diploma in business management. Unfortunately, I am still unemployed but hopefully something will come up,” said Cele.

Nkobongo Resource Centre manager Zamo Mgandi said the centre has 212 orphans and vulnerable children on their database who come to the centre from various schools every Monday to Friday for aftercare activities and food. There are four staff members, 12 volunteers and 12 committee members.

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“The founder of this centre was the late Charles Southwood of the St Vincent de Paul Society with former Salt Rock resident Cathy Bean. Charles identified that a large number of children who were not going to school did not have anything to eat.

“He and community members formed committees which involved church members, home-based care and caregivers, and together they brainstormed the idea of a centre which was originally run by Noah (Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity).

“The Anglican Church housed Noah for the first five years until it could stand on its own and is now known as the Nkobongo Resource Centre,” said Mgandi.

If you will like to donate to the centre call Mgandi at 078 735 1668.

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