Hope for the youth of Eersterust

An Eersterust organisation has been spreading hope and help to people in need, paving the way for them to improve their lives and futures since 2018.

Friends of the Needy strives for the transformation of the youth by giving them motivational training and coaching in schools, colleges, and other institutions of higher education to fight vices such as drug abuse and HIV/Aids.

“We are a non-profit organisation based in Pretoria, Eersterust, where we assist underprivileged communities with food parcels and general aid in the form of clothes and any assistance where it is needed,” said Monique Hammond, head of the organisation.

She said the focus was on encouraging self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship.

With all the challenges, the objectives are to establish, provide or promote feeding programmes as well as a home for homeless children, drug addicts and orphans.

She said there was a plan to establish a life skills centre in Eersterust to train unemployed men and women and those recovering from drug addiction.

This centre will train young people, all over the city, in carpentry, catering, plumbing, tailoring, designing and more professional skills to help them become work-ready and eventually independent.

“We have done a few projects this year,” Hammond said.

“We assisted primary school children with their entrepreneur’s day.

“For Mandela Day this year, we assisted Harmony Hof old age home in purchasing food for the month and supplying Nelly Rose old age home with toiletries.”

A couple of weeks ago they picked fresh naartjies from a local farm to hand out to the community of Eersterust.

“We are currently organising a Joy in a Box project for underprivileged children, where we get our donors to make boxes of basic toiletries and toys for Christmas. We are also doing a food parcel drive for families for Christmas as well,” said Hammond.

Hammond said the organisation faces problems like so many other non-profits.

“We are solely dependent on fundraising with our private donors and corporate companies, and like most non-profit companies we are not subsidised by the government.”

An important aspect for them is to network and affiliate with any organisation whose aims and objectives align with those of Friends of the Needy, not just in Eersterust, but anywhere it is needed.

For more information, visit www.fotn.co.za, dial 067 190 4883, or send an email to hammondmetty@gmail.com.

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