DURBAN - THE Sibaya Community Trust, in collaboration with other humanitarian organisations, donated personal procurement equipment and other basic necessities to the Blackburn informal settlement in uMhlanga.
The trust partnered with Food for Life, Ammucare Charitable Trust (ACT) Foundation and 1WomanPACT through a social cohesion initiative, in an effort to bring social relief to more than 1000 residents of the Blackburn community.
“The initiative was important, imperative and necessary. The North is a buzzing economic hub. Many locals of the Blackburn community also happen to be loyal and capable employees of Sibaya Casino and the major Oceans Development in uMhlanga Rocks which employs 600 residents from the Blackburn neighbourhood,” said Vivian Reddy, chairperson of the Sibaya Community Trust.
“This community, in particular, was recently deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, social unrest and overall impoverishment. It is therefore our natural social duty to ensure that the quality of life of our people is improved for the better.”
The trust donated 1000 5-litre bottles of sanitiser while the ACT Foundation, a global charity community, donated masks, food hampers and health packs.
“The unrest polarised us even more as people of different races. Likeminded organisations fostered peace and goodwill. We also demonstrated that peace and unity is possible despite our perceived differences,” said Sulosh Pillay, community servant from the ACT foundation.
The 1WomanPACT Foundation donated 200 dignity packs and 500 masks to young females in the community. 1WomanPACT was established by women as a non-profit charity organisation with the aim of supporting and improving the lives of women.
“We participated because it is aligned to our core values of 1WomanPACT. It was a necessary initiative to start a process of engagement between communities such as Blackburn and uMhlanga, where the socio-economic differences are so distinctly apparent,” said Pamela Padayachee, 1WomanPACT founder.
“We felt it was more than important to be part of activities which open a space to dialogue and foster relations advancing the interests of all. This is part of a broader programme to build cohesion, and many more initiatives will be under way soon.”
Sivi Chetty, who was a volunteer in the initiative, said it marked the beginning of an ongoing community support programme.
“We have much to offer our neighbouring Blackburn community for poverty alleviation, youth development, sport, education, skills training and security. Empowering and protecting women and youth will be the central theme in all of our programmes. The Blackburn community is as concerned about security as we are. They have no street lights and fall prey to criminals after dark,” said Chetty.
Among other sponsors were Caprini Footwear, which sponsored face masks, the AmaZulu Football Club, which donated soccer balls and T-shirts, and Food for Life, which provided 1 000 hot meals.
The Sibaya Casino and the trust will donate and equip a kitchen for Blackburn to feed the hundreds of poverty-stricken residents in the future as part of the social cohesion initiative.
“This is just the start of our continued commitment to ensure the community of Blackburn prospers in a real way where the lives of our fellow compatriots are improved in a lasting way. We have bigger plans, and we most certainly will be back to bring more tangible hope,” said Reddy.
Daily News