Danville - Background
The Danville Help Project
The Danville/Elandspoort area is situated west of Pretoria. Danville being the older area and more established with the obvious bigger type of homes and the infra structure (shops and flats) to service the area.
Elandspoort on the other hand consist solely of Low Cost Housing – with special (P.O.P.) “poorest of the poor” type rentals and tariffs charged by the Tshwane Metro. These houses are let to the residents by the metro as the latest decision is not to sell the units.
From information gathered at the metro, rentals vary from “bachelor” type house to the 3 bedroom unit. From R169-00 per month to R258-00 per month. Average household income is between R600-00 to R800-00 per month. Although many households rely solely on disability incomes – and some with no income presently at all!
Our involvement with the area began in early 2003 when we were assisting/supporting a function being held for the aged in the old aged houses in Danville. After discussion with the local church ministers it was very apparent that the need was much greater than what we were exposed to at the homes of the aged – resulting in us doing some “networking” in the area to obtain more information.
Results were “shocking” when we saw under what conditions these people were “surviving”
Examples were families of 6 and 7 with small children – being looked after by the grandmother – who relies herself on a small disability pension. The children were sleeping on the hard cold cement floor – with very little to keep them warm and small amounts or no food at times.
The condition of their small homes are in a terrible state of repair with only the minimum of furnishing inside – no curtains/ no chairs and tables/ no cupboards – using boxes to pack their meager belongings/ broken windows and doors etc.
Large families living in the small 3 bedroom units when they are trying to assist those with no means of accommodation.
Families living under “shade cloth” – the only protection through rain and cold etc.
A number of smaller type soup kitchens are active in these areas – our decision to support however was when we attended a typical “soup kitchen” where groups of people under the names of, “Die Woord” Emanuel and Rainbow Bible Clubs” were feeding 150 children daily.
The feeding is done from 4 residents houses:-
Pamela Zulu - Danville
Isak Swart - Danville
Alet Stroebel – Danville.
Louise van Rensburg – Elandspoort (we assist this group on an ad-hoc
Arnold Crause – Andeon Project
Initially this meal was the only food that most of the children had for the day (once a day at 15:00) Monday to Friday. Many have no mean or access to food over the weekends – which made the situation even more heart wrenching.
Since we have started the assistance to the Bible Clubs we now manage to hand out food parcels to ± 98 families on a Friday – which then assists in some small way through the weekend.
We also assist the Pretoria Child and Family Care Society in providing food and shelter to homeless families.
The response from the public has thus far been tremendous – and donations of food – beds – mattresses – clothes – furniture have been greatly appreciated.
Upliftment in the area is also becoming apparent with some house owners painting their homes out (donations of paint etc) and small pieces of furniture and curtaining making some difference to their quality of life. Sewing classes are being held for the women and we attempt to get employment for those able to work.
Needs are obviously ongoing and assistance of support is urgently required. Anything donated is put to good use and definitely assists the residents of these areas.
NEW PROJECT - RAINBOW NURSERY SCHOOL
We are now in the process of establishing a nursery school as well. This will be done in conjunction with the “Ondersteuningsraad” a welfare organization – who has offices in Capital Park and Danville.
Currently we have 90 children in the group. 99% of these children are under developed for their age. 3 “Wendy” type houses serves as “classrooms” and the children receive their meals from the Van Rensburg Old Age home’s kitchen, for which we are so gratefull! There are 2 qualified teachers and 2 caretakers.
We are also active at the President Kruger Children’s Home in Villieria
MARGARETHA ACKERMANN (SAVF) HOME FOR THE AGED & FRAIL CARE AND DANVILLE OLD AGE HOME
The Danville Help Project (volunteers) are very involved in these two homes for the aged and have regular projects/activities throughout the year.
We also work hand in hand with the “Ondersteuningsraad” (Mr Attie de Jager) a registered Welfare organization and also support needy people referred to us.
In addition to the donations and work that is being done – we have been fortunate enough to have had a Section 21 Company registered for this project.
www.danvillehulp.co.za where more info can be obtained.
Please see/visit the website for more detail on the specifics – and work that is presently being done.
Cell: 082 8282 551 a/h
Home: 012 991 3914 a/h
DIE DANVILLE HULP PROJEK
Die Danville/Elandspoort area is wes van Pretoria geleë. Danville is die ouer en meer gevestigde area met groter huise en die infrastruktuur (winkels en woonstelle) om die gebied te diens.
Elandspoort, aan die ander kant, bestaan hoofsaaklik uit laekoste behuising met spesiale “armste van die armes” tipe huur en tariewe wat gehef word deur Tshwane Metro. Hierdie huise word deur die Metro aan inwoners verhuur aangesien die nuutste neiging is om nie die eenhede te verkoop nie.
Uit inligting wat verkry is vanaf die Metro wissel die huur tussen R169 tot R258 per maand vir eenman-tipe eenhede tot drie-slaapkamer eenhede. Die gemiddelde maandelikse inkomste per huishouding is R600 – 800. Baie huishoudings maak staat op ongeskiktheidstoelaes en baie het op die oomblik geen inkomste nie.
Ons betrokkenheid in die area het in 2003 begin toe ons gehelp het met die reël van ‘n funksie vir die inwoners van die ouetehuise. Na gesprekke met die plaaslike kerk-leiers het ons besef dat die nood veel groter was, as wat ons by die ouetehuise gesien het, wat daartoe gelei het dat ons begin navraag doen het om meer inligting te verkry.
Dit was skokkend om agter te kom onder watter omstandighede hierdie mense lewe:
• Voorbeelde was families van 6 en 7 met klein kinders wat versorg word deur die ouma, wat haarself staatmaak op ‘n ongeskiktheidspensioen. Die kinders het op die harde koue sementvloer geslaap met baie min om hulle warm te hou en min of geen kos.
• Die toestand van hulle huisies was haglik met slegs die minimum meubels. Geen gordyne, stoele, tafels, kaste. Kartondose word gebruik om die karige besittings in te bêre en daar is gebreekte vensters en deure, ens. Sommige huisies het ook nie plafonne in gehad nie!
• Groot families bly in die klein drieslaapkamer-eenhede en dan probeer hulle nog ander help wat nie blyplek het nie.
• Families wat onder skadu-nette bly – hulle enigste beskutting teen die koue en reën.
‘n Aantal sop-kombuise is aktief in hierdie areas. Ons besluit om betrokke te raak het momentum gekry toe ons ‘n tipiese sop-kombuis besoek het waar mense onder die name van “Die Woord”, “Emanuel” en “Rainbow Bible Clubs” ongeveer 150 kinders daagliks gevoed het.
Die verskaffing van kos, klere en huishoudelike artikels word gedoen vanaf die huise van drie inwoners:
Pamelu Zulu – Danville
Isak Swart – Danville
Alet Stroebel – Danville
Louise van Rensburg – Elandspoort (ons help hierdie groep op ‘n ad-hoc basis)
Daar word Maandag tot Vrydag om 15:00 kos voorsien by die verskillende groepe aan ± 170 persone.
Oorspronklik was hierdie ete die enigste kos wat sekere van hierdie kinders gehad het vir die dag. Baie het geen toegang gehad tot kos gedurende die naweke nie, wat hartverskeurend is.
Danksy donasies van die publie kan ons op die oomblik voedselpakkies aan ongeveer 92 families voorsien op Vrydae, wat darem tot ‘n mate verligting bring oor die naweek.
Die reaksie vanaf die publiek was tot dusver fantasties en skenkings van kos, beddens, matrasse, klere en meubels word opreg waardeer.
Opheffingswerk in die gebied is ook positief met eienaars wat nou hulle huise kan verf (skenkings van verf) en ontvang meubels en gordyne wat hulle kwaliteit lewe verhoog.
Naaldwerk-klasse word aangebied vir die dames en ons probeer om betrekkings te vind vir die wat nog kan werk.
Die nood is natuurlik voortdurend en hulp word dringend benodig. Alle skenkings word opreg waardeer en goed aangewend en help definitief om die nood van die inwoners van hierdie areas te verlig.
2. NUWE PROJEK: RAINBOW KLEUTERGROEP
Ons is in die proses om ‘n kleutergroep te vestig. Dit sal gedoen word in samewerking met die “Ondersteuningsraad”, ‘n welsynsorganisasie met kantore in Capital Park en Danville.
Op die oomblik is daar 22 kinders in die groep maar hierdie getal groei op ‘n daaglikse basis. Meeste van hierdie kinders is onder-ontwikkel vir hulle ouderdom.
Ons is baie aktief betrokke by die President Kruger Kinderhuis in Villieria.
(b) MARGARETHA ACKERMANN (SAVF) OUETEHUIS EN SORGSENTRUM VIR VERSWAKTE BEJAARDES EN DANVILLE OUETEHUIS
Die Danville Hulp Projek is baie betrokke by hierdie twee ouetehuise en projekte en aktiwiteite word op gereelde basis deur die jaar gereël.
(c) Ons help ook die “Pretoria Child and Family Care Society” om voedsel en huisvesting
te voorsien aan behoeftige families.
(d) Ons werk ook saam met die “Ondersteuningsraad” (mnr Attie de Jager), ‘n geregis-
treerde welsynsorganisasie en help behoeftiges wat na ons verwys word.
Dit is met groot dankbaarheid dat ons kan bevestig dat ‘n Seksie 21 Maatskappy vir die Danville Hulp Projek geregistreer is.
Nie winsgewende organisasie
Besoek gerus ook ons webtuiste vir meer inligting en oor projekte waarmee ons tans besig is:
Sel : 082-828-2551 na ure
Huis : 012-991-3914 na ure
Op Sondag 28 November het 7 joernaliste uit Nederland die Danville en Elandspoort area besoek. Ons hoop om positiewe terugvoer en moontlik hulp deur hulle uit Nederland te ontvang!