The Toolbox Hub has become highly revered within the local community over the past number of months.
The hub is a community upliftment project run by The Bethany House Trust in Krugersdorp, that aims to uplift and empower the poor in areas of hopelessness throughout the West Rand. Its focus is on job creation and skills development.
The Trust is a well-known Krugersdorp-based charitable organisation that does important work within local communities. They run men’s and women’s shelters as well as a children’s home.
The hard work and dedication of the hub’s workers have made a massive impact on the safety as well as the aesthetic of local neighbourhoods as they undertake the never-ending task of cleaning sidewalks, walkways, and open spaces, and cutting down invasive tree species.
According to Willowbrook, Ruimsig, Amorosa, and Poortview (WRAP) Residents Association chairperson Martin van der Westhuizen, the work of the hub has been invaluable to residents of the northern suburbs of Roodepoort.
“What started in November last year with just five workers and a few hand tools. It has grown into a workforce of more than 50 people that perform a critical service to communities throughout the Northside and elsewhere,” Van der Westhuizen said.
“They now have 10 brush cutters and two chainsaws, and they are still growing. The team does incredibly good work and they do a lot to address homelessness and unemployment. Their rehabilitation and reintegration programmes help to get people employed and off the streets. They learn new skills, and they take pride in earning their way.”
Unfortunately, due to the current NPO funding crisis and struggles to get their service level agreements renewed with the Department of Social Development, Bethany House is struggling to keep up its valuable charitable work.
According to Andrew Holdsworth, who runs the hub, his working teams are badly affected by the lack of funds.
“We are still working on various local projects, but the funding crisis means that we now have no social worker, which is critical to the development of our team members on this journey.
“The hub makes no money from these projects. Our ability to transport the teams to the areas where they are working, and even to feed the team is affected. We are down to one meal per day. For people who perform hard physical work, this is not sustainable.”
Residents associations (RA) have since come together to try and raise funds for the trust to try and keep them going until the current crisis is resolved.
According to Radiokop RA chairperson, Chalice Moodley, RA’s have managed to set up collection bins for Bethany House at various shopping centres.
“We are stepping up our fundraising efforts to employ the Toolbox team more widely, and we are also encouraging community members to contribute.
“The loss of the Toolbox team would be detrimental to communities throughout the Northside. They work on clean-up projects throughout the area and are extensively used by various RAs. We urge residents to help them continue with their good work by contributing to their local RAs, donating clothes and non-perishable food, or donating directly to Bethany House.”
Contact your RA to find out how to contribute to The Toolbox Hub or The Bethany House Trust.
