Grassroots effort restores Maraisburg streetscape
The Hands of Maraisburg group continues to make a huge impact on reclaiming the open spaces of their neighbourhood.
A small group of volunteers tackled the notorious bend along Millward Road, where it meets 6th Avenue, in a much-needed clean-up on 11 April.
Fazlin Domingo-Samodien said the operation was carried out under the banner of Hands of Maraisburg.
“This section of the sidewalk next to the Maraisburg Graveyard has been an eyesore for a long time,” she said. “Though we’re only a small group today, I think we’ve managed to accomplish a lot.”
Also read: Stormill roads threaten industry, job creation
Her husband, Ashraf, added that the clean-up revealed a leaking water pipe hidden behind tall grass and weeds along the graveyard wall.
“The grass and weeds here were at least as tall as the wall,” he said. “We would have liked to clean a larger area, but unfortunately, we’re only a small group today.”
Hands of Maraisburg has conducted effective operations at hotspots across the area in recent months, gaining strong community support.
“The idea is for us as the community to take ownership of our area and not wait for municipal entities to do the work,” said Ashraf.
Through their dedicated WhatsApp group, Hands of Maraisburg has also had success tackling illegal dumping, with residents photographing and reporting incidents.
