Boys unit opened at King centre
By Tabisa Mntengwana
01 September 2009
A NEW unit has been added to the King William’s Town Child and Youth Care Centre through a partnership between Buffalo City Municipality and the City of Leiden, in Holland.
A group of 11 youngsters from Leiden, the municipality’s Dutch sister city, has been working at the centre day and night for three weeks busy transforming and refurbishing the unit.
Officially opened on Wednesday, 26 August, it will accommodate 24 boys. A group from the Leiden Youth Brigade visits Buffalo City regularly, during which time the Dutch youth work at the centre.
The project started in 2007, with funding of R350 000 from the Leiden municipality to help a needy organisation. To qualify to take part in the project, each member of the brigade must raise funds, make presentations on his or her return to Holland, be a Buffalo City-Leiden ambassador, and market the partnership.
Buffalo City’s general manager for public participation and special programmes, Thabo Matiwane, praised the visitors for the passion and commitment. “The project has been going on for four years and it’s one of the City’s partnerships that has a positive output. Buffalo City has benefited intensely from it,” he said.
“As local government, we are mandated to empower the communities to do things for themselves. This was also encouraged in the executive mayor’s State of the City address earlier this year.”
The six-bedroom unit has two bathrooms. It was painted inside and outside, tiled and carpeted, new beds were bought, and the television room, lounge and kitchen were furnished.
Muriel Bosman, the youth brigade co-ordinator, thanked everyone who had contributed with time and money on this project.
“This project will not have been successful without your support. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share this moment of putting a smile on a child’s face. Everything that you have with us we will forever treasure in our hearts,” said Bosman.
Giving her words of encouragement and praising the youngsters involved, the City’s general manager for communications, Ondela Mahlangu, said: “As the City we are humbled by what you have done for us. We have learned so much from you and we hope you have gained something from us.”
The King William’s Town Child and Youth Care Centre is home to more than 100 orphaned and abandoned children, most of whom are still at school. It helps with transport to school every day and with food. According to the centre's co-ordinator, Heather Schriber, it takes care of children up to the age of 18.
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