Helping hand for kids endangered by rats

Published Jul 6, 2016

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Johannesburg - While many areas of Joburg are being upgraded, residents in other parts, such as Mnyamandawo (Dark Palace) in Berea in the inner city, say they feel left out and forgotten.

But thanks to Africa Tikkun, a non-profit organisation that works with underprivileged communities, residents of Mnyamandawo are beginning to see the light.

The organisation has come up with a programme to take residents’ children off the streets and place them in early childhood development centres.

This week, The Sunday Independent accompanied the Afrika Tikkun team on one of their visits to Mnyamandayo to hear the views of residents and gauge how the NPO’s work is contributing to community development

Social worker Thabo Ramatsokotla says the NPO became concerned when it realised many parents were abusing alcohol and that their children were left with nothing to do but play on the streets.

“We started visiting the area and we assessed some of the difficulties faced by the community. We saw many children who should be in early childhood development centres idling on the streets of Berea and we became concerned.

“We got the parents to gather their children’s identity documents and got them registered for early childhood development programmes.

“We have taken more than 10 children off the streets.”

But while the NPO’s intervention may have alleviated the plight of the children, a lot needs to be done in the community.

Phindile Dlamini, 22, a mother of three who has lived in Mnyamandawo for more than five years, complained about rubbish that piled up, the presence of numerous rats, and living conditions that were getting worse by the day. All of these were a danger to children's health and well-being.

“We are suffering here. We're living with rubbish because they hardly collect it. There are so many rats that they are a threat to our kids.

“I had a situation were two of my kids were (bitten) by rats, and the second-eldest almost died.

“I am thankful to Afrika Tikkun, which helped our kids by taking them to school - we cannot afford transport to take them.”

The Sunday Independent

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