North shelter continues to empower the homeless

A homeless shelter in the north of Pretoria has recently trained 24 of its beneficiaries in computer literacy and artisanship.

The training was part of Life-Changing projects’ goal to reintegrate the homeless into society through skills training and was sponsored by Godisang Development.

Since the shelter’s inception more than eight years ago, its goal was to find new and innovative ways to uplift the community.

A recent partnership between the shelter and the Independent Development Trust (IDT) got the ball rolling. Now, they can pay 101 stipends through a project granted to the shelter in which 19 of their beneficiaries can also work.

The IDT is a schedule 2 state-owned entity.

It manages the implementation and delivery of critically needed social infrastructure programmes on behalf of the government.

This partnership has assisted the non-profit in one of its fields of service which is job creation.

Life-Changing projects have provided ongoing critical psychosocial support through sheltering, skills development and programmes focused on prevention, early intervention as well as rehabilitation and reintegration.

Thus far, the shelter has managed to provide its services to 30 000 individuals and needy families through the help of stakeholders, donors and sponsors.

Tebogo Mpufane, the shelter’s project manager, said that donations from various organisations during the festive season have kept beneficiaries in high spirits thanks to home-cooked meals.

Mpufane said they had seen an increase in people coming to the shelter for food during this period because many other organisations were closed during the December period.

“We provided as many people as we could with meals. Unfortunately, we couldn’t house them, but we also recently went into the community to donate clothes to those who needed them.”

While the shelter welcomed the New Year by spoiling the beneficiaries with a hearty meal, they also never lose sight of what they stand for, which is to put the vulnerable first.

They are planning on making a bigger difference this year and hoping to help more people this year.

This can, however, only be done with more stakeholders jumping on board and donors giving to the cause.

If you want to help the shelter, it has launched several drives that you can donate towards. These include:

– Food drive: a donation of non-perishable and perishable goods to assist in feeding beneficiaries.
– Book drive: any books or study materials that are in good condition.
– Clothes drive: new or used formal, casual and cooperate wear that will allow beneficiaries a change of clothes.

All donations can be dropped off on Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 17:00 at 18 Iris, 3rd Avenue, Heatherdale AH, Akasia.

For more info on how to get involved, contact Tebogo Mpufane at 065 275 0681.

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