Local NGO opens shelter for women and children

NGO Kitso Lesedi opened the doors to its new homeless shelter for women and children on 471 Belvedere Street, Arcadia on April 8.

The shelter accommodates homeless women and children aged 0-10 years and 18-59.

Founder and CEO Maki Tselapedi said the NGO decided to open based on research on outreach visits to inner city parks, which are known for being hives of homelessness.

“There are a lot of women and children that are living on streets as well as a lot of children that are born in the streets and continue to live there. Our priority above all other things is to target women and get them off of the streets. Yes there are men, there are the elderly and all that, but our target for now is to take the women and women with children out of the street and create a safe place for them,” Tselapedi said.

She said the main challenges that women face include unemployment and abusive relationships.

“Some come from dysfunctional households and find themselves living on the streets but most you’ll find a young woman following the boyfriend in the street. They’re coming from villages, rural areas and townships and they are following their boyfriends into the city. They end up staying with them, having children and one of the first beneficiaries that we admitted during the opening used to stay with her kids in the street in a similar predicament,” Tselapedi added.

Kitso Lesedi is a Christian NGO founded in October 2006. Its main objectives are to reduce homelessness, fight poverty and create a clean and safe environment for those who are homeless, under bridges, parks, and in dilapidated buildings in the city (sheltered and unsheltered). It is registered as a public benefit organisation (PBO) under section 18A of the Income Tax Act. Donations to Kitso Lesedi are tax-deductible.

The shelter can accommodate up to 58 homeless women and 20 children and is open Mondays to Fridays 08:00 to 16:30. The weekends are visiting days.

The shelter offers psychosocial services and programmes that will strengthen beneficiaries’ work readiness and independence.

It currently needs donations of washing machines, fridges, stoves, printing machines and volunteer expertise.

“Never give up, we are able to serve and will be there for you until you reach your goal,” Tselapedi said.

Deputy Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya extended her gratitude to Maki and the Kitso Lesedi team for launching the shelter, saying that the move will help alleviate homelessness in the area.

“The opening of this shelter aligns perfectly with the key priorities outlined in our Street Homelessness Policy, and we are thrilled to see your organisation taking proactive steps to help those in need. We are confident that your efforts will not only provide temporary refuge but also offer pathways out of homelessness for the women who seek assistance,” Moya said.

“Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding in 2022, we have been committed to supporting your organisation and the vital work that you do. We look forward to collaborating with you to ensure the success of the shelter and the programmes designed to assist homeless women in rebuilding their lives. Congratulations once again on this milestone achievement. Your compassion and dedication are truly inspiring, and we are grateful for the positive impact you are making in our city.”

For more information visit: www.kitsolesdi.co.za

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