It was a night to remember for various community organisations in the Potch, Ikageng and Promosa areas as the NWU’s Community and Stakeholder Engagement (CSE) announced payouts at the annual Charity Ball event on Wednesday, August 26.

Amelia Care Centre received the biggest payout of the evening, with an amazing R230 000 going to the facility. The funds will be used to buy new mattresses for residents and materials for the workshop.

John-Martin Parsons, the chairperson of Amelia Care Centre, was thrilled to receive this generous payout.

“It is a huge honour to give the residents new mattresses so that they can have a great night’s sleep,” said Parsons.

Voetlig Bedieninge received R65 000, followed by Eco Hope and Bafenyi Trust, which received R25 000 and R55 000 respectively.

Here is the full list of payouts:

• Love Potch – Safe Haven Aged Care: R1 500 towards repairs and maintenance at the Promosa facility.
• Pothole Drive – Promosa: R15 000 towards addressing potholes on a main road serving schools, residents and a clinic.
• Paws Haven Potchefstroom: R20 000 towards food and blankets for animals in its care.
• Retsa Tsela – Berts Bricks Primary School Restoration Project: R20 000 towards improving bathrooms, sanitation, hygiene and the school environment.
• Eco Hope: R25 000.
• Ebenezer Crèche: R37 000 towards installing a jungle gym. A project between NWU Faculty of Engineering and Oosterhof Ladies Residence.
• Vessels of Mercy – Healing Hearts: R45 000 towards supporting children in foster care who have experienced trauma and disrupted attachment.
• Potch4Life Family Support – COVERED: R55 000 for a trailer and shelving.
• Bafenyi Trust: R55 000 towards its Hygiene Pack Initiative and Christmas Project, benefiting approximately 1 000 people.
• Thakaneng Home for Boys: R60 000 towards purchasing a washing machine and tumble dryer.
• Voetlig Bedieninge: R65 000 towards constructing a carport and restoring the organisation’s roof.
• Amelia Care Centre: R230 000 towards new mattresses for residents and materials for its workshops.

Total awarded: R618 500

Dr Tasleem Sayed, chairperson of the Community and Stakeholder Engagement (CSE) Advisory Board, emphasised the importance of CSE at North-West University using its resources, partnerships and student involvement to make a meaningful difference in surrounding communities.

She stressed that community engagement goes beyond simply giving back, focusing instead on building relationships, understanding genuine needs and working collaboratively towards sustainable change.

Sayed explained that much of the funding for these initiatives comes from RAG, with CSE taking its responsibility for allocating these funds seriously.

She highlighted the important role students play through CSE initiatives, where they engage with children, young people, older persons, people with disabilities, schools and welfare organisations.

“Behind every amount that we have mentioned tonight is a child who may have a safer place to play, a foster family receiving support, an older person living in a better-maintained home, an animal receiving food and warmth, a young person travelling on a safer road, or a person with a disability being given opportunities for dignity, participation and purpose.

That is what community engagement should ultimately be about: turning resources into meaningful change.”