Father and daughter seek to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty
KYA SAND – Judith and David Phiri have taken on the burden of inter-generational poverty in their community.
Father and daughter duo Judith and David Phiri are Bridgetown residents with a passion for the youth in their nearby community. The pair has recently registered their non-profit organisation which has planned to provide school children in the area with a place to do their homework and provide them with one warm meal.
Judith graduated from the Pearson Institute with a B Comm Marketing degree last year. The 21-year-old has taken a gap year to bring her project to fruition. The graduate began her journey as a free tutor in 2016, with her younger brother, peers and other learners in the area. A conversation with one of the current board members who transported children in and around Cosmo City sparked the idea to take her action to the next level and provide educational support on a bigger scale.
Planning and Development (PND) Centre for Homework and Study has planned to provide a ‘free service, based in informal settlements’, explained David. With a background in research, David captured the data which reflected the needs of schoolchildren in the area. His research revealed that children living in the settlement a hop, skip and a jump away from Thorn Tree Academy need:
- A space designated to focus on school with tables and chairs
- Resources such as paper and pens, computers and Internet
- Extra-curricular activity for the young girls in the area
- Food (as the children are said to only eat meals provided by schools and once parents arrived home from work).
The pair has hoped to bring their idea to fruition and have submitted their proposals to potential funders as well as approached the relevant parties for designated land at the informal settlement. They recently obtained their NPO certificate and were eager to share it.
Judith emphasised the emancipation education brings and has vowed to help ‘break inter-generational poverty children face’. The pair is currently in need of funders, balanced food parcels and stationery.
Details: Judith 081 706 7593; judith@pndprojects.co.za and David 081 553 0206; david@pndprojects.co.za
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