Durban North’s oasis of hope helps the needy
The Wellness Centre Trust was founded in February 2014.
WHEN Durban North resident, Eloise Briggeman saw how homeless people were living under a bridge, she stopped to talk to them, and discovered that many struggle to find employment because they don’t have IDs. That is when her vision to assist with skills training geared toward sustainable incomes was born and her DurbanNorth based NPO, The Wellness Centre Trust was founded in February 2014. Since then, the centre has helped some 414 people get their IDS.
“There is an estimated 6 000 homeless and destitute people on the streets of Durban. The main reason why they end up on the streets is their constant search for employment. Our efforts have allowed us to assist many individuals and families,” said Briggeman.
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One success story that is unfolding at the centre is that of Ntombi Mnikwa.
“The Wellness Centre Trust helped me to get an ID and now I am working as a cleaner at the centre,” she said.
The centre’s project manager, Franck Kiala said: “We consider each person who comes to the centre a family member because we walk together with them in their journey to becoming self sufficient.”
Kiala said the centre runs several weekly programmes to assisst the homeless and unemployed: On Monday there is a sewing class from 9am to 11am. On Tuesday there is a bookkeeping class from 10am to 11am. On wednesday, there is a business skills class from 7:30am to 8:30am, a learnership class from 8am to 10am and computer training from 11am to 1pm. On Thursday there is a bookkeeping class from 10am to 12pm and a biblical class at 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
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The centre aims to help get the homeless back on their feet and integrated into society.
“If they get a job, we give them a starter pack which includes a bed and stove, because they are coming from nowhere. We give them groceries and pay their rent for a month. We assist them with their budget and they continue to have sessions with our social workers for a period depending on their individual need,” he said.
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