Page 8 - Dainfern Precinct Living 9 2020

PRECINCT LIVING
PRECINCT LIVING

SIYAKHA, WE

ARE BUILDING

BY RENUGAN RAIDOO

n the morning of impart skills, and thereby livelihoods, to unloading the vehicles, we asked the
19 September 2020, residents in the area. Ceren Taygun, a new group to get together for a discussion.
the usually quiet Fern transplant to Dainfern, said “I am happy we Willem, who had facilitated the precinct’s
Shopping Centre hosted were able to offer crisis relief in times of connection with Thabo Mbeki, asked them
a small workshop for need. I believe there will always be room to to assemble in a circle. Each person was
Oover a dozen budding reach out and lend a hand to someone.” asked whether they were working, what
entrepreneurs. Mostly hailing from the their skills were, and what kind of business
Thabo Mbeki Informal Settlement near But in order to guarantee a more they might want to start, if any.
Lanseria Airport, the attendees came sustainable future, she said that “it’s time
together to learn more about starting to transition to skills development. Through Despite the shadow of joblessness and
businesses, ranging from food services and our training centre, we want to achieve poverty cast over the entire country,
tuck shops to transport. poverty reduction through self-sufficiency. a shadow that only darkened with the
We want to equip people with small spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the
The programme grew out of engagement business skills, coupled with a skill that responses we elicited revealed a spirit of
with the community in Thabo Mbeki during they can use for income generation. It’s hope, imagination, and possibility. Two
the coronavirus lockdown (described in helping them to help themselves in a way.” women who had been laid off from their
June’s Dainfern Precinct Living magazine). jobs as chefs at a nearby restaurant had
After many weeks of delivering food, On a donation delivery in June, we gauged aspirations to sell vetkoek, amagwinya,
clothes, toys, and other donations to interest in the possibility of starting a khotas, and chips. A trained builder was
the settlement, some volunteers saw an business development programme focused looking for ways to leverage his skills
opportunity to make a more lasting change. particularly on the group of local volunteers in construction to make a livelihood for
Rather than just supplying hand-outs, who gave up their time to distribute the himself. Another volunteer thought that,
these volunteers saw an opportunity to donations among their neighbours. Before if she could directly source them at a low
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DPL