Many residents feel that Wolmer, a community in the north of Pretoria, has slowly faded from the metro’s attention.

However, three passionate men have stepped forward with a mission to restore unity, dignity, and hope.

Braam Oosthuizen, Clarence de la Roza and Eudo Gordon have committed themselves to reviving the spirit of Wolmer through faith, development and restoration, a mission they say is not just necessary, but urgent.

The initiative began with conversations about the visible decline in the area. They see that homelessness is on the rise, there is little structured support, and residents feel disconnected from one another.

For Oosthuizen, the turning point was realising how many people in Wolmer felt abandoned.

“We cannot allow people in Wolmer to continue living like this. As a community, we must restore pride. We must show one another that we still care,” he said.

De la Roza stressed that hope should not be something residents have to search for.

“People here feel forgotten, but they are not forgotten by us. We want Wolmer to become a place where people know they matter, where they feel seen.”

Although they acknowledge the valuable work done by churches in the area, the three community champions believe that more must be done beyond the walls of religious institutions.

“Church is not enough. We need action. We need to meet people where they are, understand their struggles, and walk with them through recovery,” said De la Roza.

Their approach seamlessly blends spirituality with practical community building. Each gathering begins with prayer and worship, grounding their efforts in faith.

But as Oosthuizen emphasised, “Prayer must lead us into service. It must move us from words to action.”

One of their main priorities is addressing homelessness, which they believe cannot be solved solely through handouts.

Gordon described their philosophy clearly as they don’t want to donate to the homeless only, but to help them off the streets, understand their backgrounds and help them to rebuild their lives.

He added that with the collaboration of ward councillor Quentin Meyer, every homeless person has a story that deserves to be heard.

“Not all homeless people are trouble. Some are fighting battles we don’t even know about.”

He said job creation is another pillar of their mission, as Wolmer has many skilled residents, yet opportunities remain scarce.

“We hope to collaborate with local businesses to create employment pathways that uplift the entire community.

“We have so many qualified people here. Business owners must be part of the solution. Development starts when everyone gets involved, not for money, but for humanity.”

One of their most ambitious goals is establishing a community centre, a place where the homeless, disadvantaged families, and everyday residents can receive support, mentorship and spiritual guidance.

“We want a centre where people can come for help, not judgment. A place where they feel safe, welcomed, and valued.”

The trio have already consulted with various residents in Wolmer and mentioned the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

A prayer session was held on November 29, when the community came together to pray.

Many community members expressed a desire for change but did not know where to begin.

Oosthuizen believes the key is inclusivity. “It must be a community-based movement. Everyone must feel included in restoring Wolmer, whether they are struggling or stable.”

Gordon added that their work has already begun on a small scale.

“This is not something we are planning for the future. It’s already an ongoing thing. We’ve started engaging people, praying with them, and helping where we can.

“We chose Wolmer because there is a need here. And we have also experienced the struggle. We know what it feels like to be overlooked.”

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