Toolbox crosses divide

The Toolbox Community Empowerment Hub is conquering neighbourhoods.

The initiative started humbly under the Krugersdorp-based organisation, The Bethany House Trust, as a way to help people help themselves out of poverty and into jobs.

According to manager Andrew Holdsworth, it started with a few men who resided in a men’s shelter and were undergoing rehabilitation for substance abuse.

“It is common knowledge that relapse rates for substance abuse are high, and this can be attributed to a lack of purpose to a large extent,” he says.

“Helping someone who has a few rands in their pocket is much easier than helping someone with no money and no prospects.”

Thus, a plan was hatched where, once a person reaches specific milestones on their recovery journey, they would qualify for one of the Toolbox Hub’s work programmes.

“We work nearly exclusively with resident’s associations, helping with community projects like cleaning kerbs, sidewalks and open spaces.

“We started in November 2019 with a few hand tools and only about four people. Today we have at least 70 people deployed every day in various areas throughout the West Rand – and much better tools.”

Toolbox has been instrumental in the massive turnaround achieved by resident’s associations in the northern suburbs of Roodepoort, where they’ve helped residents take back their neighbourhoods, aiding in the reduction of crime, vagrancy, vandalism and theft of electrical and other infrastructure.

They have since added more divisions, including security and even construction.

Holdsworth says he attributes the success of Toolbox to the fact that it helps to restore human dignity and pride in their participants.

“Our people learn valuable skills, both professional and personal. They make a positive contribution to the communities in which they work, and they earn their own money. They can look after their families and this makes a huge difference in their recovery journey.”

For their newest collaboration, Toolbox has partnered with Florida Hills Residents Forum (FHRF), cleaning the sidewalks along William Nicoll Road between Ellis Street in the north and Ontdekkers Road in the south.

“I don’t like to brag, but there is a vast difference. Pedestrians can once again use the sidewalks. The overgrowth that scratched passing cars have been cut away, and visibility, and this safety, is greatly improved.”

Toolbox teams worked for three days filling up multiple skip bins, making it safer for pedestrians, motorists, and residents.

“We hope to further extend our collaborations with resident’s associations,” he says, adding, “Now that we’ve seen that our model works, we are determined to help more people, both communities and people that take part in our programmes.”

For more information on the Toolbox Hub, contact Andrew Holdsworth on 060 845 2291.